Two Nudes [obverse]

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

National Gallery of Art

This tall, vertical painting shows two nude women next to each other, one standing and one sitting. The women both have light skin painted in shades of cream and pale yellow, with highlights of seafoam green, dark blue, and magenta. The seated woman faces us, turned slightly to the right, while the standing woman has her back to us, facing the left and partially blocking the seated woman. Both women appear to have dark hair, although their hair and the edges of their faces blur together against a patch of dark green in the background. Outside of this green patch, the wall behind them is a vibrant orange with streaks of dark and light green. The floor beneath the women is a bright coral color with swirling patterns in yellow and green, like a patterned rug. Below the chair under the seated woman is a patch of dark red with dark green lines. The brushstrokes in the painting are thick and bold, layering bright colors over one another.