Homme nu de face, bras droit levé 1878 - 1882

Pierre Puvis de Chavannes made this nude drawing using graphite on paper, with a grid meticulously laid out underneath. The grid is really key to understanding what's going on here. It would have allowed de Chavannes to accurately transfer the figure from one scale to another - presumably, to reproduce it at a larger scale. You can see how he built up the image, refining it square by square. This hints at the intensive labor and attention required to create this drawing. Of course, we don't know what the final destination of this drawing was. But its dependence on a modular system makes me think about industrial production, and the way that repetition and standardization can yield powerful results. In this case, a carefully observed figure. Hopefully, considering the close relationship between materials, making, and context enhances your appreciation of this artwork, and the way that it blurs the lines between art and craft.