Academic Nude, Seen from the Back

"Academic Nude, Seen from the Back" by Paul Cézanne French, 1839–1906, is a vital example of the artist's engagement with traditional academic drawing conventions early in his career. Executed in 1862, this piece reflects the rigorous study of the nude figure mandatory in French art academies during the mid-nineteenth century, preceding Cézanne’s radical shift toward modern painting.

The medium selection speaks to the intensity of the study. The figure is rendered primarily in charcoal and black chalk, allowing for deep shadows and defined contours. Cézanne carefully modulated the tones using stumping to soften transitions and erasing to create highlights on the musculature. The presence of incidental graphite sketches and notations scattered across the tan laid paper, which is itself mounted on heavy tan wove paper, provides insight into the immediacy of the artist's working process and structural planning.

This focus on volume and form proved foundational for the development of Cézanne's unique approach to composition. Though classified under Prints (Works on Paper) by the museum, the drawing serves as an essential record of his technical education in France. It highlights how the artist mastered conventional techniques before transforming them into his own style. The work resides within the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago and is widely studied, often appearing in publications dedicated to Post-Impressionist prints and drawings, making it accessible through public domain reproductions.