Solon H. Borglum, born Ogden, UT - Female Nude - 1919 - T-Shirt

A standing nude figure, drawn in graphite on tan paper, is set against a field of botanical forms and scattered studies of figures and animals.

Visual Elements & Composition

The figure dominates the sheet. It is seen in three-quarter view from behind, the head turned to the right and one hand raised toward the chest, with the feet firmly planted at the base of the page. Soft, tonal shading models the back, hip and legs, so the body reads through light and graphite rather than outline. Large leaf and blossom forms rise on either side: broad, layered petals at upper left and a bud-like head at right. Smaller sketches of figures, animals and a seated group sit around the margins at a reduced scale. A handwritten inscription appears in the upper right corner. The palette is restrained, with parchment tones and graphite grey throughout.

Meaning & Symbolism

The quiet weight shift of the standing pose and its placement among botanical forms point to the study of the body in relation to ornament, a theme that runs through the decorative and figurative work of the period. The smaller figures show the artist testing several poses and groupings on one sheet, weighing the figure against its surrounding forms before the subject was resolved in a finished work. The catalogue record dates the sheet 1919 and gives the title Female Nude. The drawing comes from Solon Hannibal Borglum (1868-1922), born in Ogden, Utah, who became one of the leading American animal sculptors of his generation. He trained in Paris and was known for bronzes of horses and figures of the American West. He was the brother of Gutzon Borglum, who later carved Mount Rushmore.

Built for the Tee's Front

This is a study made to be read as a whole, and the front of a tee gives it that room. The figure can sit centered across the chest, with its raised hand and turned head at eye level, while the leaf forms frame the shoulders and the small sketches fan toward the hem. Worn close, the drawing reads the way the artist laid it out: one sheet, many attempts, and a single figure resolved at the center.