Odalisque
1825
Ingres painted this reclining harem beauty with a back so elongated that contemporary critics joked she had three extra vertebrae! He didn't care about strict anatomy; he cared about that perfect, sinuous curve that defines his Neoclassical style. The rich green drapery and exotic turban transport us straight into a 19th-century European fantasy of the Orient, a popular theme that allowed artists to explore sensuality under the guise of 'exotic' culture. It remains a masterclass in making the human form look like liquid silk.
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