La luronne 1930

François Barraud made "La luronne" with oil on canvas, though the exact date is unknown. The palette is muted, almost monochromatic, and Barraud's application is incredibly smooth. It's as if he wanted to hide the process, to make it seem effortless, which of course it never is. Look at the way the light catches the curve of her calf, highlighting the texture of the stocking. There’s a palpable tension there, a sense of pulling and stretching. It's not just about the form of the leg but the feeling of the fabric against skin. Then, consider the corner with the palette hanging on the wall. The smudges of color that peek through disrupt the smooth surfaces of the rest of the painting, reminding us that this is a painting. Barraud's work reminds me of Balthus, the same detached gaze. But unlike Balthus, there's something melancholic here, a sense of vulnerability. Art is never finished, only abandoned, as they say, and this painting leaves you with more questions than answers.