Standing Nude 1930

Raoul Dufy painted this standing nude, using light washes of color, in 1930. Dufy worked during a time of shifting attitudes towards the female body in art. Rather than idealizing the figure, his light washes and visible brushstrokes render the body as a fluid and evolving form. Dufy’s choice to depict his subject on a vibrant carpet evokes the exoticism prevalent in early 20th-century European art. Yet, the woman's gaze confronts us directly, challenging the passive role often assigned to female nudes in art history. Her expression is not one of seduction or submission, but of quiet strength. Dufy once said, "What interests me is the note of joy." In this light, the painting celebrates the human form, portraying a woman comfortable in her own skin, in all its unique beauty.