Oehler, Bernice Olivia [Hrsg.]: Figure sketching (London, 1927)

A Guide in Sketching the Male
and Female Figure

The chief differences are:

The lines of woman’s figure are curves;
fluid, graceful and subtle.

The male figure is squarer in outline, more
“blocky”, indicating muscular strength.

The Female Figure has:

Somewhat smaller head in proportion as
well as actually—

Is usually shorter in stature—

Has narrower and more sloping shoul-
ders—

Wider hips from the front view—

More curve of back in profile—

Shorter thigh bone—

Widest part of body in front view is just
below head of thigh bone.

The Male Figure is wider across
the shoulders

The hands and feet are smaller in propor-
tion to the rest of the figure.

The man’s figure forms a triangle, the
woman’s a diamond shape.

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