The artwork titled “Seated Girl and Venus” was created by Vincent van Gogh around 1886 while he was in Paris, France. This piece, executed using pencil on paper, is a part of the Realism art movement and falls under the genre of “sketch and study.” The artwork is currently housed in the Van Gogh Museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork features two distinct studies on a single sheet of paper. On the left, a young girl is depicted seated in profile, with her body relaxed and her gaze directed downward. Van Gogh’s keen observation materializes in the meticulous details captured in the girl’s posture and expression. On the right side, the study transitions to a different subject: Venus. This portion of the artwork showcases a fragmented depiction of Venus’s form, focusing on her lower body and legs, rendered with harmonious chiaroscuro that emphasizes the contours and muscular structure. The juxtaposition of the two subjects reflects Van Gogh’s exploration of human anatomy and his dedication to mastering the realistic portrayal of the human form.
