Reclining Figure on Rug

A striking mid-century figurative composition that presents a reclining nude stretched languidly across a rug with vivid blue foliage, executed in watercolour onto paper and framed behind glass.

The figure is simplified yet sensuous, her body rendered in soft, flowing contours that emphasise volume and repose rather than anatomical precision. She rests against a boldly divided backdrop, saturated red to one side and an expanse of blue to the other, creating a dynamic, modernist tension between figure and space.

The style reflects a distinctly mid-century approach: flattened perspective, expressive simplification, and an emphasis on shape and colour over fine detail. The body is articulated through translucent washes of warm peach, apricot, and blush tones, allowing the underpainting and brush movement to remain visible. Shadows are suggested rather than defined, giving the figure a softness that feels intimate and atmospheric.

The surrounding, painted in rhythmic strokes of cerulean and turquoise, forms a decorative, almost pattern-like base. These repeated leaf motifs introduce movement and contrast, their cool tones heightening the warmth of the nude figure. The brushwork throughout is loose and confident – gestural in the background, more fluid and diluted across the body lending the piece an immediacy and painterly charm.

Overall, the work balances bold colour blocking with gentle figuration, embodying the modern aesthetic characteristic of mid-century figurative painting.

This watercolour on paper is framed behind glass and presented in a complementary gilt frame.  Both the painting and frame are in excellent vintage condition. 

Size: 48 x 69 cm (including frame)