Female nude 

André Derain painted this “Female Nude” with oil on canvas, capturing the figure in repose against a dark backdrop. The nude reclines, filling the composition with a soft, yellow light that contrasts the dark background. Derain uses form to convey the essence of his subject. The lines of the body are simplified, emphasizing the curves and planes of the figure. The interplay between light and shadow creates volume, giving a sculptural quality to the composition. Derain creates a dialogue between classical form and modern expression, highlighting the enduring appeal—and also the evolution—of the nude within the history of painting. Through this intimate depiction, Derain invites us to consider how the body can be a site of both beauty and contemplation. By reducing the figure to its essential forms, he prompts us to look beyond surface appearances and consider the deeper structures that underlie our perception of the human form.