Studies of Aphrodite for Aphrodite and Eros John Singer Sargent (1856-1925)

The drawing presents a figure study executed in charcoal on paper. Here we observe a female form rendered with a focus on anatomical accuracy and expressive line work. The subject is depicted standing, her body turned slightly towards the viewer, one arm raised above her head while the other holds an object – likely a symbolic attribute – in a gesture of offering or presentation.
The artist’s attention to detail is evident in the rendering of musculature and bone structure; the contours of the thighs, torso, and upper arms are carefully delineated. The face, though sketched with less precision than the body, conveys an air of serene confidence. A cascade of curls frames the head, adding a classical touch to the overall composition.
To the right of the central figure, a smaller sketch depicts a youthful face, presumably intended as a companion or subordinate element within a larger narrative. The hand holding what appears to be a small arrow is positioned near this secondary portrait, suggesting a connection between the two figures – perhaps a depiction of love and desire.
The drawing’s unfinished quality contributes to its character as a study; the lack of shading and tonal variation emphasizes the underlying structure rather than surface texture or atmospheric effects. This approach suggests that the artist was primarily concerned with exploring form and proportion, laying the groundwork for a more fully realized composition. The sketchs immediacy – the visible traces of the artist’s hand – invites speculation about the creative process behind it. It appears to be an exploration of idealized beauty within a mythological context, hinting at themes of divine love, fertility, or perhaps even temptation.