Woman Undressing 1932

Mikuláš Galanda created this image of a woman undressing, likely in the 1920s or 30s, with oil paint on canvas. Note how the pigment is built up in layers. The red background, itself a deep, sensuous hue, seems to glow from behind the figure. The woman’s skin is rendered in soft, fleshy pinks, achieved through subtle gradations of tone. You can see how Galanda has used his brush to model the form, suggesting the roundness of her limbs and the curve of her back. While the subject matter – the female nude – is a classic theme in art history, Galanda's approach is strikingly modern. He simplifies the forms, reducing them to their essential elements. The red tonality, combined with the visible brushwork, creates a sense of immediacy and intimacy. The work's material presence reminds us that it is not just a representation, but also an object in its own right. The artist’s focus on the materiality of paint brings a tactile quality to the image. It reminds us that art is not just about ideas, but also about the skillful manipulation of materials.