Beautiful Rafaela in Green by Tamara de Lempicka

This canvas entitled “Beautiful Rafaela in Green (Lempicka)” constitutes a remarkable example of how Tamara de Lempicka treats the reclining female nude with contained sensuality and bold geometrization. The work fits into the tradition of Parisian Art Deco that celebrated modernity and sculptural elegance. The figure’s posture evokes absolute relaxation and an imposing physical presence.

A nude woman is depicted lying on her back on an inclined gray surface, her body stretching diagonally across the pictorial space. Her short black hair is styled back, while her face is turned to the left with closed eyes and parted red lips suggesting sleep or reverie. Her arms are folded behind her head, emphasizing the curve of her breasts and the line of her belly. The flesh is treated in beige and pink tones with smooth and shiny surfaces, with pronounced shadows that sculpt the volumes of the hips and thighs. In the background, dark tones contrast with an area of emerald green visible at the bottom right.

Lempicka’s talent shines in the sculptural modeling of the body and the precision of lines that confer upon the figure a quasi-monumental and timeless presence.