Nude

Comment

Comment by Resident Curator on February 8, 2014 at 10:08pm

Curator’s Comments: 

 

Maybe it’s because of all of the resurgence and interest in Balthus due to the Cats and Girl Provocations at the Met, but I see a disquieting voyeurism in these last two nudes. The figure on the green background, simply titled Nude appears classically rendered, but like Balthus, the figure leans more towards the Surreal than the academic. The slight twist in her torso and raised shoulder suggests a languid, suppressed tension. The color palette is just slightly off, but none of the ambient cool color from the chair or backdrop makes its way into the recessed shadows of the body.  Likewise, Pink Robe is an open and exposed figure, as her body is slightly spayed out for the viewer while her eyes demure the nefarious attention.  As a still life she carries the right amount of chiaroscuro and sculptural form, but I still read the facial expression as psychologically detached.  Curiously, the painting entitled Geometry –Lesson is handled with a different and distinctly gestural hand.  The active brush/knife work breezily sculpts a solid form, while maintaining expressive vigor.  She is Degas-like in her pose and scumbled color against solid, flatter panels of space.

 

Comment by Amber Palecek on May 1, 2009 at 11:57pm

I love the green against the figure!