Portrait of Paulette Goddard 1941

Diego Rivera made this striking portrait of Paulette Goddard using oil paint, and it’s interesting to see how he renders her likeness with a sensitivity to the textures and colors that surround her. The skin tones of the two figures are rendered with smooth gradations, contrasting with the angular folds of the red and purple fabrics. Rivera builds up the colors in thin layers, creating a sense of depth and luminosity, particularly in Goddard's face and legs, where the subtle highlights add a sense of volume. The background, with its green and tan hues, is painted with a visible, almost woven, brushstroke. Look closely at the seated figure behind Goddard, the artist even includes a very particular detail, as she holds a pen to her lips. This can give us an intimate sense of what it is like to be an artist and a muse. Rivera’s work shares an interest in flattened perspective with artists like Henri Matisse, and it encourages us to find our own way into the painting.