Artwork
Reclining Female Nude
Reclining Female Nude is an oil painting by Lajos Tihanyi. It dates from 1917 and is held in the collection of the Hungarian National Gallery. Created in 1917, this oil painting depicts a reclining female figure positioned on a red upholstered couch.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1917, this oil painting depicts a reclining female figure positioned on a red upholstered couch. The composition centers on the woman's relaxed pose, with her left hip supporting her weight, a bent right leg, and a straight left leg. Her head is turned toward the left, hair gathered back, while a green pillow rests behind her against a yellow backdrop.
Subject & Meaning
The work belongs to the long‑standing tradition of the nude, presenting the body with a gentle, curvilinear quality. The warm, golden tones of the skin contrast with the vivid furnishings, emphasizing the tactile presence of the figure and inviting contemplation of intimacy and stillness within an interior setting.
Technique & Style
Bold, visible brushstrokes convey texture across the canvas, particularly in the rendering of flesh and upholstery. The artist balances soft modeling of the body with more assertive handling of the surrounding objects, reflecting a synthesis of post‑Impressionist color sensibility and a lingering influence of Neo‑Impressionist concerns for surface and light.
History & Provenance
Painted by Hungarian artist Lajos Tihanyi before his permanent relocation to Paris, the piece entered the collection of the Hungarian National Gallery, where it remains on display. Tihanyi’s early affiliations included the Neo‑Impressionist circle known as the “Neos,” and later he joined The Eight, a Hungarian avant‑garde group formed in 1909 that pursued experimental approaches beyond naturalism.
Context
The painting emerges during a period of artistic transition in Central Europe, when many creators were moving away from strict representationalism toward more expressive, color‑driven practices. Tihanyi’s involvement with The Eight placed him among peers who sought to integrate modernist ideas from Parisian circles into Hungarian art, a cross‑cultural exchange evident in the work’s compositional daring.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lajos Tihanyi (29 October 1885 – 11 June 1938) was a Hungarian painter and lithographer who achieved international renown working outside his country, primarily in Paris, France.
