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Study of a Reclining Nude

François Boucher1732–1735

The J. Paul Getty Museum

The J. Paul Getty Museum
Los Angeles, United States

As a young woman twists to look backward over her shoulder, she displays the voluptuous curves of her nude body. With her left arm hidden behind her torso, her right arm balances on the bolster pillow that supports her breast.

In this simple sketch, François Boucher filled the model's body with a sense of motion and vitality even in repose, showing his mastery of line. From her twisting toes, bent forward to support her weight, to her tilted head and the muscular arms that prop up her body, Boucher captured the energy and poise required to hold this position. His strokes emphasize the sensuous lines of her body, while darker lines beneath her legs create a sense of depth and setting.

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  • Title: Study of a Reclining Nude
  • Creator: François Boucher
  • Date Created: 1732–1735
  • Location Created: France
  • Physical Dimensions: 31 × 24.6 cm (12 3/16 × 9 11/16 in.)
  • Type: Drawing
  • External Link: Find out more about this object on the Museum website.
  • Medium: Red and white chalk on oatmeal paper, strips of paper added at top and bottom edges
  • Terms of Use: Open Content
  • Number: 84.GB.21
  • Culture: French
  • Credit Line: The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
  • Creator Display Name: François Boucher (French, 1703 - 1770)
  • Classification: Drawings (Visual Works)
The J. Paul Getty Museum

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