Swan, Accordion, and Mercury 1994

"Swan, Accordion, and Mercury" is a 1994 watercolor painting by American realist artist Philip Pearlstein. The painting is a depiction of a nude woman reclining in a chair, with her foot resting on an accordion. The woman is surrounded by other objects including a chair, a swan sculpture, and a mercury thermometer, which gives the work a sense of everyday life and quiet contemplation. Pearlstein’s paintings are often characterized by their precise rendering of the human figure and their focus on the ordinary. He is known for his use of muted colors and his ability to capture the subtle nuances of light and shadow.