Reclining Hermaphrodite
1750
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1750
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Reclining Hermaphrodite is a 1750 by Joseph Wright, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This sketch shows a reclining nude figure lying on its side, with one arm bent under its head. The body is drawn in loose, flowing lines, while the drapery over the legs is tightly wrapped and marked with sharp, crisscrossed strokes. The head is turned slightly, and the paper’s edge cuts off the scene at the bottom. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to capture the body’s curves, but added careful cross-hatching to the fabric for texture. This mix of rough and precise marks makes the drawing feel alive. Check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with layered lines.
