Nude Girl, Miss Leslie Hall 1909

George Bellows made Nude Girl, Miss Leslie Hall, sometime in the early 20th century, probably in oil on canvas. I just love the way he’s gone at this, all loose and juicy, the body built up with these incredible slabs of paint, and the almost entirely dark background. Look closely and you can see this fantastic variety of mark making, from the broad, confident strokes defining her torso to the more delicate touches around her face. There’s a real tactile quality to it, you can almost feel the brushstrokes. I’m drawn to the way the light catches her shoulder, these almost buttery highlights contrasting with the murky shadows elsewhere. It’s like Bellows is playing with the very materiality of paint to bring this figure to life. There's a touch of Manet here perhaps, especially in the direct, almost confrontational gaze of the model, she is looking right at you. It’s a reminder that painting is always a conversation, an ongoing dialogue between artists across time.