The artwork titled “Torso of Venus” was created by Vincent van Gogh around the year 1886 in Paris, France. Utilizing chalk on paper, this work is a representation of the Realism art movement and falls within the genre of sketch and study. Presently, the piece is housed in the Van Gogh Museum located in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The artwork is a meticulous chalk study of a classical bust, specifically the torso of the ancient Roman goddess Venus. It captures the essence of the feminine form through the delicate rendering of curves and subtle musculature. The use of shading and contour lines highlights the voluminous nature of the torso, and the details meticulously emphasize the texture and form. The base of the bust is also rendered with attention to detail, supporting the torso and providing a sense of grounding within the composition. The simplicity of the background serves to focus the viewer’s attention entirely on the anatomical study of the sculpture.
