Nude Woman 1905

Hippolyte Petitjean painted this nude woman with oil on canvas, and the mosaic-like brushstrokes create a shimmering effect, like light dancing on water. You can really see Petitjean's process in the way the colours are built up. If you look closely at the figure’s skin, you will see it’s made up of countless tiny dots of yellows, pinks, and blues. This technique, called pointillism, gives the surface a vibrant, almost vibrating quality. It's not just about optical mixing; it’s about the physicality of the paint itself. Each dab feels deliberate, a small act of construction that adds up to the whole. It's like Petitjean is building the figure, piece by piece. This meticulous approach reminds me a little of Seurat, another artist who was fascinated by colour theory and the way we perceive light. But where Seurat could be quite rigid, Petitjean has a softer, more lyrical touch, as if he is less concerned with scientific precision than with capturing a fleeting moment of beauty.