Nude Studies

Solon H. Borglum's anatomical sketches demonstrate the foundational practice underlying late-nineteenth-century figurative art. Working from live models, Borglum developed the musculature and form essential to his sculptural career. These studies—rendered in graphite, ink wash, and colored pencil across multiple poses—reveal the artist's systematic approach to understanding the human body. The varied techniques visible across the sheet, from dense cross-hatching to spare linear notation, reflect ongoing experimentation with media and depth. Borglum would become known for monumental public sculpture; these pages record the disciplined study that preceded his larger commissions.