The Blue Room

Suzanne Valadon

1923

Painting

Suzanne Valadon started out as a model, but she changes the concept of a reclining nude in this painting. Using a traditional reclining nude concept, Valadon paints a fully-dressed woman. Compared to men who had no experience posing as a reclined nude and being the object of the gaze, Valadon portrays the reality of women in an unideal fashion. This model becomes a "lounging" model, rather than reclining, with the casual wear, the cigarette in her mouth, and with a book on her bed.

https://www.sartle.com/artwork/the-blue-room-suzanne-valadon