Zittende naakte vrouw 1884 - 1952

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries made this ‘Zittende naakte vrouw’ or ‘Seated Nude Woman,’ as we’d say in English, at an unknown time. The work feels grounded in its form. Imagine de Vries, contemplating the model, trying to capture not just a likeness, but the weight and slump of the body. I see a grey, granular surface, built up, like sediment. The layered paint gives it a sense of history, as if this figure has been sitting here for centuries. The figure almost seems to be emerging from the ground. The pose conveys a feeling of introspection. The artist seems to have been thinking about the sitter's internal world. The muted palette and the rough texture add to this sense of quiet contemplation, inviting us to pause and reflect on our own states of mind. Each artist builds on the work of those who came before, finding new ways to express universal feelings.