Reclining Nude 1877

"Reclining Nude" (1877), by Paul Cézanne, captures the essence of the artist's groundbreaking approach to figure painting. The subject is depicted in a simplified, almost abstract form, with broad strokes and muted colors defining the body's contours. Cézanne's distinctive use of color and brushwork, often referred to as "constructive" or "sculptural," imbues the nude with a sense of volume and presence. This experimental style challenged the conventions of academic art and paved the way for modern art movements like Cubism.