Artwork
Reclining Girl
Reclining Girl is an oil painting by Jules Pascin. It dates from 1921 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
In this context, the painting can be read as an intimate portrayal of modern femininity, capturing a private moment without overt symbolism or allegory.
The painting depicts a young woman reclining on a bed or couch, her body oriented diagonally across the composition and her head resting on one arm in a pose that conveys both relaxation and introspection. The figure’s posture and the neutral interior setting focus attention on her physical presence and psychological state rather than on narrative action.
The work’s title emphasizes the subject’s state, reclining, rather than a specific identity, framing the image as a study of form and mood. In this context, the painting can be read as an intimate portrayal of modern femininity, capturing a private moment without overt symbolism or allegory.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1921, the painting is rendered in oil on canvas, a medium chosen for its luminous depth and blendable handling.
The composition adopts a fluid, sinuous line that traces the figure’s contours and the surrounding furnishings, aligning with Pascin’s characteristic draftsmanship. Subtle glazing and delicate scumbling modulate the light falling on the reclining form, while the background remains softly atmospheric, allowing the figure to emerge as the focal point. Brushwork is predominantly fine and continuous, with occasional feathery touches that animate edges without departing from the overall restrained realism.
History & Provenance
Jules Pascin created the oil-on-canvas painting Reclining Girl in 1921. The work depicts a girl and measures 92.7 cm in height by 73 cm in width. It is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The provided sources do not contain specific details regarding the original commission, the initial owner, or the subsequent chain of ownership leading to its acquisition by the museum.
The painting Reclining Girl by Jules Pascin is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work was created in 1921 and is executed in oil paint on canvas. While the Metropolitan Museum of Art is confirmed as the holding institution, the provided sources do not specify a unique inventory or accession number for the piece, nor do they list any specific exhibition history.
Overview
Jules Pascin’s 1921 oil work titled Reclining Girl is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. The composition presents a reclining female figure positioned atop a horse, set against a muted sky that hints at distant hills.
Context
Pascin, known for his loose handling of paint and focus on everyday subjects, produced Reclining Girl during a period when modernist tendencies favored expressive brushwork over strict realism. The painting reflects contemporary interests in simplifying forms and exploring the interplay of light and shadow.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Julius Mordecai Pincas (March 31, 1885 – June 2, 1930), known as Pascin (French: erroneously or ), Jules Pascin, also known as the "Prince of Montparnasse", was a Bulgarian artist of the School of Paris, known for his paintings and…
