Accession Number
1954/1.442

Title
Nude Model Reclining

Artist(s)
James Abbott McNeill Whistler

Artist Nationality
American (North American)

Object Creation Date
1893

Medium & Support
transfer lithograph with stumping on old laid paper

Dimensions
8 3/16 in x 13 in (20.8 cm x 33.1 cm);8 3/16 in x 13 in (20.8 cm x 33.1 cm);18 1/8 in x 22 1/16 in (46 cm x 56 cm)

Credit Line
Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker

Label copy
Nude Model, Reclining
1893
Transfer lithograph with stumping
Third state of three (Way 47; Chicago 73)
Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker, 1954/1.442
Reclining female nudes go back to Whistler’s early work in the 1860s. Here the woman’s sinuous form is animated through the use of drapery that creates a dark foil for the curve of her hip as well as a lilting line; stump has been used to soften the modeling of the figure. Whistler had explored the idea of adding lithotint to the image, but the Ways thought the delicacy of the work would be irreparably compromised, and it was printed without it, to the satisfaction of all.

Subject matter
Whistler's interest in drawing lightly clad female figures in the 1890s resulted in some of his most important lithographs from that decade.

Physical Description
A female nude reclines on a couch, leaning towards the left, face looking down. Her head is supported by her right hand; her left hand, holding up drapery behind her, is grasping the back of the couch. Her right leg dangles over the edge of the couch while the left leg rests on the cushion.

Primary Object Classification
Print

Collection Area
Western

Rights
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Keywords
couches (reclining furniture)
nudes
nudes (representations)
reclining