Nude on the Chair 1938

Iosif Iser made this painting, Nude on the Chair, with loose brushstrokes and a warm palette of yellows and reds that give it a kind of glow. You can almost see Iser circling the figure, feeling the forms out. I sympathize with him; painting the nude is tricky. It's not just about copying what you see but trying to capture something about being human. The hands are especially interesting—clasped together, like she's holding onto something, or maybe just trying to stay present. Looking at this, I'm reminded of other artists, like Bonnard, who also used color to create intimacy. It makes you wonder what Iser was thinking about, what conversations he was having with other painters through his work. I think this painting is like a little note in a long, ongoing discussion about how we see each other.