Henri Matisse often modeled his figures on poses associated with art history. This sculpture depicts a female figure in a classic pose with arms raised, hands clasped behind her head. The posture suggests an inherent voluptuousness, and Matisse had already used it in idyllic representations of nude figures living in harmony with nature. However, the sensuality of Standing Nude, Arms on Head is derived not from a detailed rendering of the body, but from the rough yet expressive modeling of its surface. Matisse chose this technique to directly convey a sense of tactile feeling.