11 - Le Corbusier (1887–1965)

Le Corbusier (1887–1965) Nude Before a Mirror, 1932 Watercolor and ink on paper, signed and dated lower left, 31 x 21 cm Provenance: > Gift from the artist to Tériade > Private bequest of Alice Tériade, 2007 > Private collection, Paris This work masterfully illustrates Le Corbusier’s artistic explorations in the early 1930s, a period marked by a powerful return to organic forms and the female figure. Here, the artist employs vigorous ink lines, using broad hatching to sculpt the volumes and shape the model’s voluptuous anatomy. The layout subtly plays on the theme of duplication through the mirror motif, while the introduction of solid blocks of color (vibrant pink, emerald green, and yellow) energizes the composition without disrupting its rigor. Featuring a powerful image of the figure standing on a leopard skin, this drawing attests to the creative freedom of a truly versatile artist, whose graphic work constantly nourishes and enriches architectural theories.