Nudes in landscape 1910

Roger de La Fresnaye made this painting, Nudes in Landscape, using oil paint on canvas. The textured surface reveals much about his process: thick layers of paint applied with visible brushstrokes, building up volume and form. Fresnaye was clearly attuned to the materiality of his medium. The way he worked with the oil paint emphasizes its inherent qualities, such as its viscosity and luminosity. Fresnaye was associated with the Section d'Or group, and his style blends elements of Cubism with a more classical approach to figuration. But one could also draw a comparison with the decorative arts of his time. He applied broad areas of color like a textile designer. Ultimately, considering the materiality of the painting allows us to appreciate Fresnaye's exploration of form and space. It also challenges any rigid divide between fine art and the more applied realms of design and craft.