Vintage French Pencil Sketch of a Seated Nude

A quick pencil sketch of a woman seated on a stool, turned away from the viewer, with her hair pinned up and one leg stretched out in front of her. It has the air of someone who agreed to pose and is now quietly reconsidering.

The drawing is fast and loose. A few sure lines give you the curve of her back and the turn of her shoulder, and hatched strokes fill in the stool beneath her. Nothing is overworked, which is exactly what makes a studio sketch like this so appealing. It's drawn on thin, slightly translucent paper with a soft, warm tone.

It's lovely as is, tucked into a mirror or propped on a shelf, or float-mounted in a simple frame so the edges of the paper show.

Details

• Origin: France
• Medium: Pencil on paper
• Dimensions: 11.75" × 8.25"
• Unframed
• Condition: Vintage, with light toning and handling consistent with age