Nude Combing Her Hair — Félix Vallotton

ABOUT THIS WORK

In "Nude Combing Her Hair," a woman sits with her back to us, her body a study in simplified forms. The scene is intimate, yet there's a certain detachment, a characteristic often found in works by Félix Vallotton. Her skin, rendered in smooth, almost porcelain tones, contrasts sharply with the deep shadows that define the room's corners and the dark mass of her hair. This starkness, a hallmark of the Nabis movement he was associated with, emphasizes line and flat areas of color over realistic modeling. The painting, created in 1916, reflects a shift from his earlier, more graphic woodcut style towards a greater focus on painting, yet retains a powerful, almost graphic quality in its composition. The deliberate lack of emotional expression invites the viewer to consider the formal elements of the painting itself, rather than projecting a narrative onto the figure.

DETAILS

Artist: Félix Vallotton
Date: 1916
Medium: Oil on canvas

LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

Five details hide in plain sight. Pick one and we’ll show you exactly where to look.

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01

Raised arms

Both arms bend up behind the head, forming a loose frame around the hidden face. The pose turns a private grooming moment into a strong shape.

1 of 5 on the painting

02

Fiery red hair

The dark red hair falls in heavy hanging locks on the left. Its deep tones push the pale body forward.

2 of 5 on the painting

03

Hatched skin strokes

Look at the back, where long parallel strokes of yellow, pink and green build the skin. The flesh reads as vibrating colour rather than smooth blending, a handling typical of pastel.

3 of 5 on the painting

04

Curled legs

The bent legs and tucked foot at lower left curve around the body and anchor the figure to the floor. Her back is turned, so we watch her unobserved.

4 of 5 on the painting

05

Speckled blue background

At the top right, flecks of blue and orange scatter across the wall. They make the background shimmer and set off the warm flesh by contrast.

5 of 5 on the painting

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THE ARTIST

Félix Vallotton

1865–1925 · Switzerland

Félix Vallotton, 'The Foreign Nabi,' masterfully blended stark realism with the bold simplification of the modern woodcut, capturing intimate domestic dramas and Parisian life.

Read Vallotton’s full story