Artwork
Female Model
Female Model is an oil painting by the Constructivist artist Vladimir Tatlin. It dates from 1913 and is held in the collection of the Tretyakov Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1913, Female Model is an oil painting by Russian artist Vladimir Tatlin. The work is part of the Tretyakov Gallery’s collection and exemplifies Tatlin’s early portraiture before his later prominence in Soviet constructivism.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a nude female figure seated on a red chair. Her body is rendered in simplified, geometric forms, with orange skin tones and red hair, while she turns her head to glance over her shoulder, suggesting a blend of stillness and subtle movement.
Technique & Style
Tatlin employs a flattened, abstracted approach, reducing the figure to basic shapes and using bold, contrasting colors, blue background, red chair, orange flesh. The composition emphasizes planar surfaces and a limited palette, hinting at the constructivist concerns that would later define his work.
History & Provenance
After its completion, the painting entered the holdings of the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the early 20th‑century interest in avant‑garde Russian art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Vladimir Yevgrafovich Tatlin (28 December 1885 – 31 May 1953) was a Russian and Soviet painter, architect, and stage-designer.
