European Art and Old Masters

While the subject of the present work is not unique in Jean Dufy’s oeuvre, a lone figure, and specifically a nude – whether seated, standing, or recumbent – is somewhat of a departure for the artist, as compared with much of his more favored subjects, which include Parisian views, circuses, orchestras, harbors, racetracks, and hunting scenes. Here a female nude sits before the viewer in an artist’s studio, cross-legged and clutching a cloth draped over her right shoulder. It is executed with the dynamic coloration and quick brushstrokes that characterize Dufy’s work. Following a fallout with his brother, the well-known painter Raoul Dufy, Jean lived much of his life in Loire where he lived with his wife, though he travelled and painted extensively. He also enjoyed a three-decade long career as a porcelain decorator in Limoges, working for Theodore Haviland.