Seated nude 1925

Emile Bernard made this oil painting, Seated Nude, sometime in his life. It’s got that academic, classical feel, but with something a little different. The colors are muted, earthy. Look at how the light falls on her skin, those soft pinks and oranges, built up with gentle brushstrokes. You can almost feel the texture of the paint, not thick and gloppy, but smooth, blended. It’s like he’s trying to capture not just what she looks like, but how light moves over form, how we perceive the world through light and shadow. There’s a kind of quietness about it, a stillness that reminds me a bit of Corot. But Bernard brings his own touch, a certain directness in the gaze. It’s not overly idealized, it feels real, human. Ultimately, it shows us how painting lets us see, and feel, in new ways.