Nude on the Chair 1935

Iosif Iser made this painting of a nude on a chair sometime in the 20th century, probably with oil on canvas. Looking at those brushstrokes, I can almost feel the artist’s hand moving across the canvas, figuring out the pose, the light, and the shadow. I can see a dialogue happening between Iser, the model and the painting itself. The pastel shades on the woman’s skin – that creamy yellow mixed with pale greens and pinks – are so sensitive. You can sense Iser's intent gaze, as he tries to capture the essence of the figure. I see this echoed in the work of other figurative painters, like Alice Neel, who aimed to capture the inner essence of their sitters. For me, painting is a conversation across time. Each mark is a question, an answer, a discovery. The process of painting involves uncertainty and ambiguity. The result becomes a space where multiple interpretations can coexist.