Antoine Watteau

Watteau’s drawing, made around 1718, is one of eight intimate studies of a female model captured in a variety of informal poses. Not intended as preparatory for any painting, these drawings were made in private rented rooms where Watteau and his friends took pleasure in “posing the model, painting and drawing.” As a fully formed, mature artist, Watteau continued to draw from the live model, even if his nude studies—so immediate and seemingly natural to modern eyes—were found wanting by academic standards.