Nude Woman 1916

Theo van Rysselberghe painted 'Nude Woman' with oil on canvas in 1916, layering warm, earthy tones with touches of vibrant colour to build up the image in what feels like a very immediate process. Looking at this painting, I see it's all about the physical stuff - texture, colour, the skin tones which have a kind of gritty realism to them. You can almost feel the rough canvas and the way the paint's been dabbed on, especially if you zoom in close. There’s a kind of broken surface to it, almost like the artist is refusing to smooth things over, embracing the imperfections. Look at the way he’s rendered the light on her shoulder, tiny touches of yellow, red and green dancing together. This reminds me a little of Bonnard, particularly in its intimate and unconventional portrayal of the nude. Like Bonnard, Rysselberghe seems more interested in capturing a feeling, a fleeting moment, than in creating a perfect image. Art’s an ongoing conversation, you know?