Nu 1923

Tarsila do Amaral’s painting ‘Nu’ presents a study of form, line, and color that destabilizes conventional nudes. The figure, rendered in warm oranges, is set against a structured environment of geometric shapes painted in cool blues, greens and reds. Amaral's use of simplified forms, outlined in black, gives the painting a flattened, almost graphic quality, challenging traditional perspective and depth. The smooth, unmodulated colors further emphasize the painting's surface, inviting us to consider its materiality. The composition rejects the idealization typically associated with nude painting. Instead, Amaral abstracts the figure, integrating it into a semiotic landscape where shapes and colors operate as signs. Note how Amaral reduces elements to their essential geometric components. This highlights the intersection of visual and cultural codes. It asks us to reconsider how we perceive the body and the space it occupies, prompting a continual re-evaluation of our understanding of art itself.