Reclining Nude 1930

Raoul Dufy painted this Reclining Nude in 1930, with oil on canvas. Look at how the brushstrokes are visible, almost like he was in a hurry, laying down color with a kind of joyful abandon. The painting feels so free, doesn't it? It’s like Dufy is showing us his process. There's something so raw about how the paint sits on the canvas, not trying to hide anything. And that palette, the way he mixes those bright, almost clashing colors, creates a kind of visual buzz. Take the floral pattern of the cushion the nude is laying on – it's like a field of tiny, energetic brushstrokes, each one a little burst of color. Dufy reminds me of Matisse, both playing with color and form in ways that feel radical and fresh. It’s like he’s saying, hey, art can be fun, spontaneous, and a little bit messy. It’s all about seeing, feeling, and letting it all hang out on the canvas.