Reclining Female Nude
1910
pastel
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1910
pastel
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Reclining Female Nude is a 1910 pastel by William Glackens, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a woman lying down on a couch or bed, her body turned slightly toward us. Her hair is dark and loose, and her skin is drawn in soft red chalk. The background is just a few quick strokes—no details, just a hint of a room behind her. The artist used pastel and chalk on gray paper, which makes the red lines stand out. The strokes are loose, like quick notes rather than a finished drawing. If you like this style, look up pastel to see how artists use colored chalk to create soft, blended effects.
