Odalisque with Mirrors 1942

Gino Severini made this oil on canvas, Odalisque with Mirrors, in 1942. I love how Severini's painting embraces a fractured perspective, almost like looking through a kaleidoscope. The palette is restrained, mostly blues and pinks, creating a cool, dreamlike atmosphere. There's a lovely tension between the flat planes of color and the implied depth of the mirrored reflections. See how the paint is applied in these broad, confident strokes? You can almost feel the artist's hand moving across the canvas. It’s this directness that brings the piece to life. And check out the lines defining the figure's body. They undulate and curve, creating a sense of volume and movement. It reminds me a bit of Picasso's cubist portraits, but with a softer, more sensual touch. Ultimately, Severini invites us to see the world from multiple viewpoints, challenging our assumptions about reality and representation.