Nude Seated at Her Dressing Table 1909

Frederick Carl Frieseke made this painting, Nude Seated at Her Dressing Table, with oil on canvas, and it’s all about how colours bounce off each other to create a mood. It’s like Frieseke is reminding us that painting isn't about copying what we see, but about making something new happen on the canvas. There’s a real sense of touch in the way the paint is applied. Thick strokes create texture, especially in the rug. The colour creates an emotional experience, and I just love how the red hair pops against the more muted tones of the skin and the room. Check out the reflection in the mirror, it's not exactly photo-realistic, and that’s part of the beauty. It’s like a conversation between the real and the imagined. Frieseke’s paintings remind me a little of Bonnard, especially in the way he uses colour to create atmosphere. It’s this feeling of a moment caught in time, but also transformed by the act of painting.