Nude Woman Combing Her Hair - Charles Maurin

A refined etching and aquatint by Charles Maurin, depicting a woman in a quiet moment of grooming, framed by a delicate botanical border.

Charles Maurin was a French artist associated with the Symbolist movement, known for his technical mastery of printmaking. This work demonstrates his command of etching and aquatint, techniques he employed to create subtle tonal variations and atmospheric effects. The composition features a woman in a private, domestic moment, captured as she tends to her hair. Her posture is relaxed, and her gaze is directed downward, suggesting a sense of quiet introspection. The central figure is framed by a decorative border of botanical motifs, rendered in a soft green tone. This contrast between the realistic depiction of the human form and the stylised, flat floral elements is characteristic of the late nineteenth-century interest in decorative arts. Maurin uses fine, precise lines to define the contours of the figure and the texture of the hair, while the aquatint provides soft shading across the skin and fabric. The print reflects the period's fascination with the intimate, everyday lives of women, often depicted with a focus on mood rather than narrative action. Maurin was a contemporary of artists like Félix Vallotton and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and his work shares their interest in the graphic possibilities of print media. He frequently experimented with colour printing, using multiple plates to achieve the delicate green hues seen in the border. This piece is an example of his ability to balance technical rigour with a sensitive approach to his subject matter. The print remains a representative example of the Symbolist aesthetic, where the focus is on the evocative quality of the image and the harmonious integration of decorative and figurative elements.