Badende vrouw 1840 - 1886

"Badende vrouw" (Bathing Woman), a small oil painting by Hippolyte Michaud, depicts a nude woman seated in a dimly lit setting. The painting, housed in the Rijksmuseum, is notable for its loose brushwork and muted tones, emphasizing the figure's form against a dark background. The craquelure, the network of fine cracks in the paint, adds a layer of textural interest, highlighting the passage of time and the fragility of the artwork. Michaud, a French artist, is known for his genre scenes and portraits, and "Badende vrouw" exemplifies his mastery of depicting the human figure in a natural and intimate way.