Reclining Nude 2010

Timur Akhriev’s ‘Reclining Nude’ is a recent painting made with what looks like generous amounts of oil paint. I see thick brushstrokes and a rich, warm palette with touches of blues and greens underneath the fleshy tones of the figure. I bet the artist had a great time working on this. Imagine Akhriev, moving the paint around, building up layers, maybe wiping away and starting again to find the right expression and capture the model’s form. The directness and simplicity of the brushstrokes really convey feeling here. There is a tenderness in the way the figure is rendered, with soft transitions between light and shadow. The body is painted with respect for the beauty of the human form. The whole image is enveloped by the background with its bright patterns that contrast with the figure’s calm, reclined pose. It reminds me of other nudes painted by Bonnard or Matisse, artists that Akhriev must have looked at. Painting is a conversation, it all goes around! There's no single way to read it, each viewer brings their own experiences and perspective to the work.