Study after "The Models"

Study after "The Models" is a powerful preparatory work executed by the French artist Georges Seurat in 1888. Classified as a drawing, this piece utilizes pen and rich brown ink applied swiftly over an underlying graphite sketch on wove paper. This technical approach allowed Seurat to define the contours and establish the dramatic play of light and shadow on the seated and standing nude figures before translating the composition into a large-scale, color-based painting.

The creation of this study falls within the pivotal artistic period spanning 1876 to 1900, when European artists, particularly those in France, were redefining modern art beyond Impressionism. Seurat, known internationally for his systematic approach to Divisionism, often relied on meticulous preliminary drawings to stabilize the composition and determine tonal values before applying his signature Pointillist technique to the final canvas. In this specific study for his masterpiece, The Models (Les Poseuses), he concentrates solely on the pose and careful placement of the subjects, defining their forms through controlled cross-hatching and varying ink density, giving the models a robust sculptural presence despite the absence of color.

This exceptional drawing offers vital insight into the rigorous planning behind one of the major achievements of Post-Impressionism. The finished oil painting, which depicts three nudes within the artist's studio alongside elements of his earlier work, requires the precise structure and tonal balance achieved here in ink. Today, the work is held in the prestigious collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., where it provides researchers and art enthusiasts access to this critical preparatory stage. As a historical example of French draftsmanship from the late 19th century, this piece is frequently studied, and high-quality fine art prints derived from the original often circulate in the public domain for educational use.