Two Nude Figures with Flowers by Philip Evergood

Two Nude Figures with Flowers

Philip Evergood · 1945

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“Stop to appreciate this intimate yet unsettling portrait of two figures enveloped in a vivid floral embrace. Its raw emotion and unique color palette offer a powerful glimpse into a complex moment in time.”

ABOUT THIS WORK

In this vibrant gouache, two figures emerge from a riot of flowers, their forms intertwined and their gazes directed outward. The woman, with her dark hair and serene expression, rests her head on the man's shoulder, while he, with an almost pensive look, holds a single bloom. The deliberately awkward drawing and bold lines give the scene a raw, expressive energy, a characteristic of Philip Evergood's style. Painted in 1945, at the close of World War II, the work's blend of sensuousness and a slightly unsettling mood suggests a complex emotional landscape. The rich, unconventional colors, particularly the deep reds and blues that dominate the composition, contribute to this intensely personal atmosphere, inviting viewers to consider the quiet intimacy and underlying tension within the embrace.

DETAILS
Artist
Philip Evergood
Date
1945
Medium
Gouache on cream wove paper
Location
Art Institute of Chicago
Dimensions
59.5 × 50.9 cm (23 7/16 × 20 1/16 in.)
ART MOVEMENTS
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What to Notice

Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Two Nude Figures with Flowers
01

The way the flowers seem to grow directly from the figures' bodies.

02

The man's hand, gently holding a single, delicate red flower.

03

The woman's serene expression contrasted with the man's more somber gaze.

04

The vibrant, almost clashing colors used for the skin tones and foliage.

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THE ARTIST

Philip Evergood

1901–1973 · United States

Philip Evergood, a social realist painter, captured the grit and vitality of American life with a unique blend of reality and fantasy, often with a cartoonish quality.

Read Evergood’s full story
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