Female Nude, Karel van Mander, about 1590
Karel van Mander the Elder, portraitKarel van Mander the ElderNetherlandish, 1548–1606

Female Nude

about 1590 · Drawing · 19.8 × 12.2 cm

May one see it?

Not on view at present

Where is “Female Nude” now? Collection: J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. Not on view at present. Checked October 7, 2026.

J. Paul Getty Museum

Los Angeles, United States

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked
In this state since
Source
The museum

About the work

A female nude with both halves of her body balanced in a relatively straightforward contrapposto pose stands with arms outstretched. Karel van Mander first sketched the figure lightly in black chalk, next shaded it in wash, and finally added the swelling and tapering pen work. He drew only what was essential: small circles form her breasts, the eyes and mouth appear through quick dots of ink, and a single swirling stroke delineates her hair. The sure ink lines and lack of correction display van Mander's instinctive draftsmanship. As part of their teaching at the drawing school they formed, known as the Haarlem Academy, Van Mander and his friends made sketches of single nude figures, often in strikingly difficult, contorted poses. This drawing represents a relatively restrained example of the genre.

J. Paul Getty Museum

Particulars

Accession number
91.GG.12

In the catalog

Sources

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