Nu Allongé Au Coussin Espagnol 1925

Henri Lebasque made "Nu Allongé Au Coussin Espagnol" with paint, and it’s all about soft, diffused light and color. He uses this kind of broken brushstroke, you know, where the colors are kind of laid on top of each other, not really blended so much, and it’s all part of this language of painting as a process. I love the way Lebasque handles the paint, especially on the patterned fabrics. It’s not about getting it "right," but more about catching the feeling of light hitting the surface. The palette is soft, kind of muted, which gives this overall feeling of calm, like a lazy afternoon nap. Notice how he doesn’t really define edges, things kind of blend into each other, which adds to that dreamy quality. The brushstrokes are loose and visible everywhere, which makes it feel fresh and immediate. Looking at Lebasque, I can't help but think of Bonnard, who also had this amazing ability to capture the quiet, intimate moments of daily life with a similar kind of painterly touch. Painting is always this ongoing conversation, right? A constant back and forth, and in a way, Lebasque is reminding us that sometimes, the most interesting things are the things we don't quite nail down perfectly.