Nude 1920

Frederick Carl Frieseke made this Nude, at an unknown date, with, what looks like, watercolor on paper. It's so light and airy, all shimmering surfaces! The whole image is built from marks that feel like pure sensation. Look at how he renders the figure. You can see how Frieseke builds her form with soft, almost blurry strokes of pale blues, pinks, and violets. It’s all about capturing light and atmosphere, not so much about defining a solid shape. The background is this wash of leafy greens and a soft, peach-colored fabric behind the figure. Then, these tiny, lively dots of red scattered across the painting, which add this playful vibration, like confetti. The whole picture vibrates with light and feeling. There's something about the way he dissolves the figure into the surrounding space that reminds me of Bonnard's paintings of nudes in interiors. Both artists share this love for color, and how it can evoke a feeling of intimacy, and even a bit of mystery. Like with Bonnard, it's not about a specific story, but about a mood, a moment.