Young Woman Putting on Her Socks 1916

Jules Pascin created this image of a young woman putting on her socks with oil on canvas. The visible brushstrokes and thin application of paint give the work a sense of immediacy, as though we are catching an intimate moment. The painting feels very open and unfinished. The choice of oil paint is interesting. While oil paint is often associated with high art and academic painting, Pascin's use here subverts that tradition. He applies it in a loose, almost sketchy manner, which is quite different from the smooth, polished surfaces often seen in more conventional oil paintings. This emphasis on process over finished product is a key aspect of modern art. In this way, Pascin challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, drawing attention to the act of making itself. The work's meaning is found not only in its subject matter, but also in the way it was made.