“Reproduction Drawing I (after the Leonardo Cartoon)” is a compelling artwork by Jenny Saville, created between 2009 and 2010. Saville’s work falls within the Neo-Expressionism movement and can be categorized as a nude painting that also contains elements of sketch and study. The attention to form and emotional intensity are hallmarks of the Neo-Expressionist style, which seeks to convey subjectivity and raw human experiences.
The artwork showcases a striking and complex composition of overlapping figures, primarily depicted in monochrome. It features multiple iterations of what appears to be a mother and child motif, a subject that echoes the themes found in the works of the renowned artist Leonardo da Vinci. The figures are rendered with vigorous, energetic lines that suggest movement and dynamism, while simultaneously conveying a sense of anatomical structure and depth.
Saville’s technique involves layering and intertwining several perspectives and poses to create a sense of temporal flux or psychological depth. The emphasis on the body’s physicality and the intensity of the human bonds presented evoke a powerful emotional response. The visceral portrayal of flesh and the human form aligns with the broader themes of Neo-Expressionism, which often focuses on the figure as a site of personal expression and emotive power.
