The artwork “Reclining female nude” by Albrecht Dürer, dated 1501, is a pen drawing that represents the Northern Renaissance movement. It falls within the nude painting (nu) genre and is currently housed at the Albertina Museum in Vienna, Austria.
This particular piece depicts a female figure in a reclined position. The woman’s body is portrayed with a considerable level of detail and delicacy, showcasing Dürer’s skill in using pen to render form and texture. The female subject is captured from a side view, with her head turned towards the viewer as if engaged in a quiet moment of introspection. Her right arm is bent, with her hand gently brushing through her hair, adding a sense of movement and grace to the composition. The lines of the drawing display Dürer’s mastery of drawing and his understanding of human anatomy. The pictured woman seems to rest comfortably, her entire figure composed in a way that feels natural and relaxed, which is indicative of the care that Renaissance artists took in studying and depicting the human form.
