Nude 1969

Tom Wesselmann made this 'Nude' with synthetic polymer paint on canvas, and right away, what strikes me is how the figure is laid out in these flat planes of color, like a collage. There's a way that Wesselmann uses color, it’s like he's carving out the space. The colors don't blend or fade; instead, they hit you directly, creating an almost palpable sense of immediacy. The planes of color that make up the figure are unnervingly sensual. Look at the mouth, a simple dark shape that suggests so much with so little. It reminds me of Matisse and his way of simplifying form down to its essence. Ultimately, I think Wesselmann is reminding us that art is always a conversation, a dialogue between artists across time.