Studienblatt_ Weiblicher Halbakt, Frau mit erhobenen Armen, Faltenstudien, Tisch und Lehnstuhl 

This study of a female figure, made with graphite and watercolor by Josef Ferdinand Becker, may seem to be merely a preparatory work. But I suggest we consider it more closely. Here, Becker is thinking through the problem of draped fabric, its weight and fall. You see the material broken down into its components: the large mass of the robe, the details of the sleeve, and separate studies of the fur trim. The watercolor adds depth, but also flattens the image. It’s not photorealism he’s after, but something more like an anatomy of textiles. Think about how the garment would have been made – the labor of spinning, weaving, cutting and sewing it. Becker’s study invites us to appreciate this work, as well as the tradition of academic training that he is engaging. In doing so, he elevates our understanding of the image, and of the wider world of making in which it participates.