Nudo di Giovane Seduta 1931

Giovanni Boldini made this painting of a seated nude, probably with oils, but it's so gestural it could almost be watercolor. Boldini's brushstrokes are so confident, so fast! The paint is thin in places, thick in others, a real push-pull. I love how he suggests form with these quick, curving lines, especially around her torso. It's like he's capturing a fleeting moment, a sense of movement. There is a looseness in how the body is constructed that is so engaging, like it's all about to come undone. Notice, for example, how the swirling strokes which form her skirt contrast with the controlled lines of the wooden panelling in the background. For me, this piece recalls the energy of someone like Manet, but with an added sense of dynamism. It’s art as an ongoing conversation, a dance of ideas across time. And isn't that the best kind of art, the kind that leaves you with questions, not answers?