André Derain — Nude with Jar

A large, nearly life-size canvas measuring 170 by 131 centimeters. Derain carried it outdoors to paint directly from life, something made possible by the era's trains and tube paints, which allowed for long outdoor painting sessions. The painting takes up the classical theme of a nude set in a landscape. On the right side of the sky, traces remain of mountains that were originally painted in more fully before being overpainted with clouds. The model's face has an almost mask-like quality, one that closely resembles the faces in the bronze sculptures Derain would later create—suggesting this painting may mark an early step toward that style.