Seated Model c. 1933 - 1938

Curator: This is Alexandre Jacovleff's "Seated Model," currently held in the Tate Collections. Observe the artist's use of sanguine crayon on paper. Editor: It strikes me as both intimate and detached. The model’s posture suggests weariness or introspection, while the medium imparts a certain distance. Curator: Notice the bold linearity—how Jacovleff has distilled form to its essential geometric components, a network of intersecting lines and planes. Editor: And yet, this simplification belies the complex power dynamics inherent in the act of representation. Who was this model? What was their agency in this depiction? Curator: The piece invites contemplation of form itself—the interplay between light and shadow, and the economy of line to create volume. Editor: Perhaps, but let's not forget that artistic choices reflect broader societal norms and power relations. The nude form, historically, has been a contested site of representation and control. Curator: An interesting point. Editor: Precisely, and hopefully one that resonates with our audience today.