Beyond Familiar Names · Subject 02 of 20 · 30 artists
Before identifying a figure or naming an action, follow the body's weight. A bent knee, an extended arm, or a slight turn of the shoulders can organize the surrounding space. The thirty artists gathered here approach the body through selected works that make movement and stillness available to close looking. Compare firm outlines with softer transitions, and notice where a pose appears supported or precarious. Gesture may suggest an emotion or intention, but the image does not always settle what that gesture means.
A 4½-minute gallery film featuring all 30 artists in this chapter. Music and artwork credits appear in the film and below.
Film soundtrack: Artists by Medium 02 - Water Carries Light — an existing original instrumental from the Incoprea library, created with Suno under the owner’s Premier subscription.
Looking closely
Follow the balance of the figure and the way a gesture carries meaning without words.
Explore the 20 subjects
- 01. Faces and Identities
- 02. Bodies and Gesture
- 03. Childhood and Family
- 04. Rooms and Daily Life
- 05. Work and Trade
- 06. Streets and City Life
- 07. Architecture and Built Space
- 08. Land and Sky
- 09. Water and Voyages
- 10. Plants and Gardens
- 11. Animals and Other Creatures
- 12. Dress and Self-Presentation
- 13. Music, Theatre and Dance
- 14. Sacred Stories and Devotion
- 15. Myth, Allegory and Fantasy
- 16. Power, Conflict and Public Memory
- 17. Books, Words and Knowledge
- 18. Pattern and Ornament
- 19. Vessels and Useful Beauty
- 20. Small Treasures and Keepsakes
The 30 artists in this chapter
- Kenyon Cox
- Aimé-Jules Dalou
- Ephraim How
- Franz Gundelach
- Joseph-Charles Marin
- Helena de Kay
- Julien Vallou de Villeneuve
- Hugues Merle
- Pierre Trémaux
- Jean Démosthène Dugourc
- Jacques Blanchard
- Eugène Durieu
- Gebhard Boos
- Hans Nicolaus Müllner
- Jean Pillement
- Alexis-Louis-Charles-Arthur Gouin
- Isidore Pils
- William Mulready
- Henri Lehmann
- Jacques-Antoine-Marie Lemoine
- Otto H. Bacher
- Gaetano Gandolfi
- William Sommer
- William K. Leuthold
- Manuel G. Silberger
- Alfred J. Wands
- Jose Garcia Hidalgo
- Emil Fuchs
- René Le Bègue
- Francesco Lorenzi
Artist 01 of 30
Kenyon Cox
American, Warren, Ohio 1856–1919 New York
The Met credits Kenyon Cox as the artist of Study for "Science Instructing Industry", dated 1898. The museum records its format as “Drawing” and its medium as “Graphite on off-white laid paper; mounted on Egyptian linen.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “American, Warren, Ohio 1856–1919 New York.”
Its subjects include female nudes.
Artist 02 of 30
Aimé-Jules Dalou
French, Paris 1838–1902 Paris
The Met credits Aimé-Jules Dalou as the artist of Woman Bathing, dated modeled probably ca. 1870–80, cast 1907. The museum records its format as “Statuette” and its medium as “Bronze.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “French, Paris 1838–1902 Paris.”
Its subjects include female nudes.
Artist 03 of 30
Ephraim How
British, 1652–1720
The Met credits Ephraim How as the maker of Wedding knife, fork and sheath, dated third quarter 17th century. The museum records its format as “Wedding knife, fork and sheath” and its medium as “Ivory, steel, silver, aggregate inlay.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “British, 1652–1720.”
Its subjects include female nudes, male nudes.
Artist 04 of 30
Franz Gundelach
German, working ca. 1694–1716
The Met credits Franz Gundelach as the engraver of Standing cup with cover, dated ca. 1700. The museum records its format as “Standing cup with cover” and its medium as “Glass.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “German, working ca. 1694–1716.”
Its subjects include female nudes.
Artist 05 of 30
Joseph-Charles Marin
French, Paris 1759–1834 Paris
The Met credits Joseph-Charles Marin as the artist of L'Oiseau Mort, dated late 18th century. The museum records its format as “Statuette” and its medium as “White marble plinth, bleu turquin marble with gilt-bronze mounts.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “French, Paris 1759–1834 Paris.”
Its subjects include female nudes.
Artist 06 of 30
Helena de Kay
1846–1916
The Met credits Helena de Kay as the artist of Paint box with nude study, dated ca. 1871. The museum records its format as “Paint box” and its medium as “Oil on wood.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “1846–1916.”
Artist 07 of 30
Julien Vallou de Villeneuve
French, 1795–1866
![[Reclining Nude] — Julien Vallou de Villeneuve](https://images.metmuseum.org/CRDImages/ph/web-large/DP147946.jpg)
The Met credits Julien Vallou de Villeneuve as the artist of [Reclining Nude], dated 1851–53. The museum records its format as “Photograph” and its medium as “Salted paper print from paper negative.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “French, 1795–1866.”
Its subjects include female nudes.
Artist 08 of 30
Hugues Merle
French, Saint-Marcellin 1823–1881 Paris
The Met credits Hugues Merle as the artist of Falling Leaves, Allegory of Autumn, dated 1872. The museum records its format as “Painting” and its medium as “Oil on canvas.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “French, Saint-Marcellin 1823–1881 Paris.”
Its subjects include female nudes.
Artist 09 of 30
Pierre Trémaux
French, 1818–1895
The Met credits Pierre Trémaux as the artist of Young Nuba Woman, dated 1853–54. The museum records its format as “Photographs” and its medium as “Salted paper print from paper negative.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “French, 1818–1895.”
Its subjects include female nudes.
Artist 10 of 30
Jean Démosthène Dugourc
French, Versailles 1749–1825 Paris
The Met credits Jean Démosthène Dugourc as the designer of Part of a chair cover, dated ca. 1797. The museum records its format as “Upholstery panel” and its medium as “Silk, brocaded.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “French, Versailles 1749–1825 Paris.”
Its subjects include female nudes.
Artist 11 of 30
Jacques Blanchard
French, 1600–1638
The Met credits Jacques Blanchard as the artist of Angelica and Medoro, dated possibly early 1630s. The museum records its format as “Painting” and its medium as “Oil on canvas.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “French, 1600–1638.”
Its subjects include female nudes, male nudes.
Artist 12 of 30
Eugène Durieu
French, Nîmes 1800–1874 Geneva
![[Seated Female Nude] — Eugène Durieu](https://images.metmuseum.org/CRDImages/ph/web-large/DP263566.jpg)
The Met credits Eugène Durieu as the artist of [Seated Female Nude], dated 1853–54. The museum records its format as “Photograph” and its medium as “Albumen silver print from glass negative.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “French, Nîmes 1800–1874 Geneva.”
Its subjects include female nudes.
Artist 13 of 30
Gebhard Boos
German, Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen) 1730/31–1814 Haguenau
The Met credits Gebhard Boos as the artist of Pyramus and Thisbe, dated ca. 1775–80. The museum records its format as “Relief” and its medium as “Alabaster.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “German, Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen) 1730/31–1814 Haguenau.”
Its subjects include male nudes.
Artist 14 of 30
Hans Nicolaus Müllner
German, active 1644–88
The Met credits Hans Nicolaus Müllner as the artist of Tankard, dated late 17th century. The museum records its format as “Tankard” and its medium as “Silver, partly gilded.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “German, active 1644–88.”
Its subjects include female nudes.
Artist 15 of 30
Jean Pillement
French, Lyons 1728–1808 Lyons
The Met credits Jean Pillement as the artist of Fantastical Landscape with Exotic Plants and Three Figures, dated 1771. The museum records its format as “Drawing Ornament & Architecture” and its medium as “Black chalk and a little red chalk, blue and red pastel, blue and red wash.” Its collection record identifies the artist as “French, Lyons 1728–1808 Lyons.”
Its subjects include human figures.
Artist 16 of 30
Alexis-Louis-Charles-Arthur Gouin
French, 1855
The Cleveland Museum of Art credits Alexis-Louis-Charles-Arthur Gouin as artist of Untitled (Nude), dated 1851–1852. The museum records its format as “Photograph” and its medium as “stereoscopic daguerreotype, hand-colored, 2/6th plate.” The creator record gives this identity context: “French, 1855.”
The work presents a nude figure.
Artist 17 of 30
Isidore Pils
French, 1813/15–1875
The Cleveland Museum of Art credits Isidore Pils as artist of Study of a Reclining Nude, dated c. 1841. The museum records its format as “Painting” and its medium as “oil on fabric.” The creator record gives this identity context: “French, 1813/15–1875.”
The work presents a nude figure.
Artist 18 of 30
William Mulready
British, 1786–1863
The Cleveland Museum of Art credits William Mulready as artist of Female Nude, Seated, Three Quarter View from Front, dated 1859. The museum records its format as “Drawing” and its medium as “black and red crayon.” The creator record gives this identity context: “British, 1786–1863.”
The work presents a nude figure.
Artist 19 of 30
Henri Lehmann
French, 1814–1882
The Cleveland Museum of Art credits Henri Lehmann as artist of Nude Study of an Old Man, dated before 1852. The museum records its format as “Drawing” and its medium as “Graphite and stumping.” The creator record gives this identity context: “French, 1814–1882.”
The work presents a nude figure.
Artist 20 of 30
Jacques-Antoine-Marie Lemoine
French, 1751–1824
The Cleveland Museum of Art credits Jacques-Antoine-Marie Lemoine as artist of Bust of a Nude Woman, dated 1780. The museum records its format as “Drawing” and its medium as “Black chalk and stumping.” The creator record gives this identity context: “French, 1751–1824.”
The work presents a nude figure.
Artist 21 of 30
Otto H. Bacher
American, 1856–1909
The Cleveland Museum of Art credits Otto H. Bacher as artist of Standing Female Nude, dated probably 1878–79. The museum records its format as “Drawing” and its medium as “charcoal.” The creator record gives this identity context: “American, 1856–1909.”
The work presents a nude figure.
Artist 22 of 30
Gaetano Gandolfi
Italian, 1734–1802
The Cleveland Museum of Art credits Gaetano Gandolfi as artist of Reclining Male Nude, dated second half 18th century. The museum records its format as “Drawing” and its medium as “red chalk (stumped).” The creator record gives this identity context: “Italian, 1734–1802.”
The work presents a nude figure.
Artist 23 of 30
William Sommer
American, 1867–1949
The Cleveland Museum of Art credits William Sommer as artist of Female Nude, dated 1924. The museum records its format as “Drawing” and its medium as “sanguine.” The creator record gives this identity context: “American, 1867–1949.”
The work presents a nude figure.
Artist 24 of 30
William K. Leuthold
American
The Cleveland Museum of Art credits William K. Leuthold as artist of Nude, dated c. 1929. The museum records its format as “Drawing” and its medium as “pencil and brown chalk.” The creator record gives this identity context: “American.”
The work presents a nude figure.
Artist 25 of 30
Manuel G. Silberger
American, 1898–1968
The Cleveland Museum of Art credits Manuel G. Silberger as artist of Nude, No. 1, dated 1930. The museum records its format as “Print” and its medium as “lithograph.” The creator record gives this identity context: “American, 1898–1968.”
The work presents a nude figure.
Artist 26 of 30
Alfred J. Wands
American, 1904–1998
The Cleveland Museum of Art credits Alfred J. Wands as artist of Seated Nude, dated before 1926. The museum records its format as “Drawing” and its medium as “charcoal.” The creator record gives this identity context: “American, 1904–1998.”
The work presents a nude figure.
Artist 27 of 30
Jose Garcia Hidalgo
Spanish, 1646–1717
The Cleveland Museum of Art credits Jose Garcia Hidalgo as artist of Nude Man Playing a Violin, dated 1693. The museum records its format as “Print” and its medium as “etching.” The creator record gives this identity context: “Spanish, 1646–1717.”
The work presents a nude figure.
Artist 28 of 30
Emil Fuchs
American, born Austria, 1866–1929
The Cleveland Museum of Art credits Emil Fuchs as sculptor of Eva, Study of a Nude, dated 1913. The museum records its format as “Sculpture” and its medium as “bronze.” The creator record gives this identity context: “American, born Austria, 1866–1929.”
The work presents a nude figure.
Artist 29 of 30
René Le Bègue
French, 1857–1914
![Camera Work: Study [Nude] — René Le Bègue](https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/1995.199.16.d/1995.199.16.d_web.jpg)
The Cleveland Museum of Art credits René Le Bègue as artist of Camera Work: Study [Nude], dated 1906. The museum records its format as “Bound Volume” and its medium as “photogravure.” The creator record gives this identity context: “French, 1857–1914.”
The work presents a nude figure.
Artist 30 of 30
Francesco Lorenzi
Italian, 1723–1787
The Cleveland Museum of Art credits Francesco Lorenzi as artist of Verona Sketchbook :Male nude with upraised right arm (page 32), dated 1760. The museum records its format as “Bound Volume” and its medium as “black chalk with white heightening.” The creator record gives this identity context: “Italian, 1723–1787.”
The work presents a nude figure.
