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Winter

Winter is a bronze statue of a young woman cast in 1787 by the 18th-century neoclassical sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. Intended as an allegory of the winter season, the work uses its cold, dark bronze medium and restrained features to reinforce that meaning. The sculpture depicts a nubile young woman clad only in a shawl, with her arms crossed over her chest and stomach and her right leg slightly raised and crossed before the left. Her downcast gaze and defensive posture add to the sense of modesty and vulnerability. Upon completion, Winter and Houdon’s Bather shocked the French artistic establishment with their perceived eroticism. Winter is now on display in the Greek and Roman collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Winter, a dark bronze female figurine wrapped in heavy drapery and standing on a circular base.
Winter shown as a dark bronze female figure bundled in draped cloth and leaning forward on a circular base.
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Winter bronze sculpture of a draped figure standing with arms crossed on a circular base.
Winter, a bronze sculpture of a draped figure standing with crossed arms.
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Winter, a dark bronze figure in a heavy draped robe with arms crossed over the chest.
Winter shown as a dark bronze figure standing on a circular base, wrapped in a heavy robe.
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Rear view of Winter, a dark bronze female figure draped in heavy fabric and standing on a circular base.
Winter shown from the back, with the figure wrapped in heavy drapery and posed on a circular base.
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Close-up of the Winter sculpture’s head with closed eyes and a tightly draped head covering.
A close-up of Winter, showing the bronze head with closed eyes and a heavy draped covering.
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Identification

TitleWinter
TypeBronze statue
Original titleInvierno

Historical context

Date created1787

Creator

ArtistJean-Antoine Houdon
Artist nationalityFrench
Style and periodNeoclassical; 18th century

Iconography and meaning

InterpretationThe sculpture's material and features reinforce the idea of winter
SubjectAn allegorical representation of the season of winter
Depicted figureA young nubile woman
PoseStanding with arms crossed over her chest and stomach, right leg slightly raised and crossed in front of the left, with a downcast gaze; defensive posture
ClothingOnly a shawl that barely covers her body
Associated workBather

Physical characteristics

Garment conditionThe hem of the shawl is visibly frayed
Body depictionSensual nude-like figure of a young woman, barely covered by cloth

Materials

Material qualitiesCold, dark bronze
MaterialBronze

History and restoration

ReceptionTogether with Houdon's Bather, it shocked the French artistic establishment and elite with its perceived eroticism

Location and ownership

Current locationMetropolitan Museum of Art
CollectionGreek and Roman collection
Display statusCurrently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Museum description of attireThe Metropolitan Museum of Art describes the shawl as "elegant but hardly suitable"