Composition

Nude reclining, Terra Foundation for the Arts

The reclining figure was drawn over a pastel of a seated woman, sideways on to this, (her head is concealed below the nude's elbow). The original model was seated, leaning forward, with legs outstretched; her skirt is just visible below the material hanging from the sofa. The touches of lilac, subtly integrated in the final drawing, may have derived from this abandoned pastel. There are also traces of sepia.

Technique

The reclining figure was outlined in several places with two fine fluent black chalk lines, and highlights of white were added on leg and elbow. The end of the pastel was used for modelling the creamy flesh colour of her body. The shadows were smoothed in.