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Wounded Amazon, 1903

Franz von Stuck (1863-1928)

  • Oil on Canvas, 65 x 76 cm
  • Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

On the battle field an Amazon has been wounded in the breast. Her fellow warriors continue to fight the centaurs, mythological creatures who are half-man, half-horse. The well-formed body of the woman contrasts sharply with the two-dimensional figures behind her who seem to have been taken from a Greek temple relief.
Franz von Stuck achieved a dramatic effect in his painting by restricting himself to a sober use of light and dark against a flaming red. The motif of an Amazon gave him an opportunity to paint a sensual female nude.

More information about "Wounded Amazon"

Fraulein Feez

Stuck’s used his favourite model, a Fraulein Feez, for the mythological female figure. Various photographs are known which show her posing nude in Stuck’s studio. Her ‘shield’ in these is a large drawing board to which two straps have been attached.
The artist was meticulous in his preparations for the painting. In addition to photographs, he made pencil studies, a crayon drawing and an oil sketch of his model. Stuck also produced a second oil painting of the Wounded Amazon.

Regard

In his paintings and sculptures of mythological beings Stuck managed to express what he regarded as the most important element in art: dramatic human feelings, in particular the passion of love between men and women.
Despite his far from traditional approach, Stuck quickly enjoyed high regard in the German art world. In 1893 he was appointed professor of the art academy in Munich; shortly afterwards he sold a painting to the prestigious Neue Pinakothek.

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