The Passion of Collecting Academic Nudes

Join me as we explore my collection of Academic Nudes from the 18th, 19th, and Early 20th Centuries and serendipitous finds in the Museum, Art Auction, and Gallery world......examples from the Golden Age of the European Academie


Friday, September 9, 2011

Anonymous 19th Century German Artist: Jugendstil Watercolor - Female Nude

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This beautiful little watercolor (directly below) popped up on eBay Austria this morning and I grabbed it. It is obvious from the detail and application of color that the artist, whoever he or she might have been, was certainly classically trained in the 19th century academic tradition and knew something about the medium. Watercolor is not very forgiving and you had better know how it behaves when it hits that paper or the result will certrainly not be what we have here. You don't push it around like oil paints. I am impressed with the color application in this little watercolor also. These dreamy, laurel wreath laden nude beauties, esconced in a forest or resting by a gurgling little brook, au naturale, were typical of the German Jungendstil movement. Although artists of the German Jugendstil Movement threw in with their French counterparts in French Art Nouveau, the art of Jugendstil was stylistically original and focused on Germanic themes and mythology. The driving force of the Jugendstil movement was the magazine Munchner Jugend (1896-1914)(above illustration of cover art), which made extensive use of illustrations and designs of German Art Nouveau artists. I will scan it when it arrives and post the details.
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Caption: Female Nude, Standing in woods
Artist: Unknown German Artist, unsigned, Jugendstil in style
Material: Watercolor on paper (18cm x 13cm)
Dated: undated, ca. 1900

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