Study of a female figure c. 1690 - 1692

Charles de la Fosse sketched this female figure using red and black chalk. Lying in repose, the woman evokes classical antiquity, an era rediscovered in the French Baroque through its art and philosophy. The seemingly simple act of reclining, central to this drawing, is rich with art historical precedent. Consider, for example, the many Venuses and sleeping nymphs painted over centuries. What is the eternal idea behind them all? The posture invites contemplation and sensuality; the viewer is drawn into a world of dreams. It calls to mind the eternal return of symbols, linking the nymphs of ancient lore to the modern psyche. This image is not merely a study but a powerful engagement with our collective memory, echoing through time.