[Female Nude, Reclining, in Profile] 1851 - 1855

Julien Vallou de Villeneuve made this photograph of a reclining female nude, using a calotype process, in the mid-19th century. This was a period when photography was still relatively new and its artistic possibilities were being explored. The image invites us to consider the representation of the female body in art during this time. While the pose echoes classical depictions of reclining Venuses, the photograph also presents a real, unidealized woman. Her body hair, the softness of her flesh, and her relaxed posture contrast with the polished perfection often seen in academic painting. This tension between the ideal and the real raises questions about how women were seen and how they saw themselves. The photograph offers a glimpse into the complex interplay of desire, objectification, and the emerging agency of both the artist and the sitter. The woman's gaze, directed away from the camera, suggests a sense of privacy and interiority, inviting us to reflect on her perspective beyond the objectifying lens.