Reclining Nude 1909

Julius Leblanc Stewart made this Reclining Nude using oil on canvas, but it’s the understated palette that really grabs me; it’s like everything is just waking up. The way the pale skin tones of the figure emerge from this hazy backdrop reminds me of a half-remembered dream. Check out how Stewart uses these thin washes of muted color to create the shadows and contours of her body. It's subtle and understated, almost like he’s coaxing the figure into existence rather than just painting it. Then, your eye travels down to the lower left, there are these bold, almost scribbled lines. They create a stark contrast with the softness of the figure, grounding the composition and adding a touch of raw energy. It's interesting to think about how this piece fits into the broader context of Stewart's work. He did a lot of society portraits, which this isn’t, but in some ways it anticipates the work of someone like Pierre Bonnard, who knew how to mix intimacy and ambiguity so well.