Nu Assis. 1907

Eugène Jansson captured this seated nude using oil paint, though when and where is a little bit of a mystery, isn't it? I love the way Jansson’s process feels so present; it’s like we can see him building up the figure with these energetic brushstrokes. It’s raw, immediate. The earthy palette creates a warm, almost melancholic mood. You can feel the physicality of the paint—thin washes in the background, thicker, more deliberate strokes defining the body. Look at the way the light radiates from behind, almost halo-like, contrasting with the shadowed face. The artist seems to be in conversation with someone like Egon Schiele, who was also pushing boundaries of form. It’s this beautiful, messy exchange of ideas happening across time. Art doesn’t have all the answers, and that’s what makes it so interesting.