Reclining Nude
Amedeo Modigliani
1917. Oil on canvas. 60.6 x 92.7 cm. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
A magnificent and deeply sensual canvas belonging to the famous series of large-scale nudes painted by Modigliani in 1917 under the patronage of Léopold Zborowski. The model's figure stretches diagonally across the frame, nearly filling the entire composition to evoke both a monumental presence and an intense sense of intimacy. The artwork exemplifies the master's mature Expressionist style, featuring glowing, warm ochre and terracotta flesh tones that contrast dramatically with the dark background. The fluid, rhythmic contours of the body, elongated proportions, and stylized almond eyes perfectly embody Modigliani's signature blend of Italian Renaissance grace and the radical freedom of the School of Paris.
(source: commons.wikimedia.org)