Nude Model, Russia, Late 19th Century

An oval oil painting on cardboard, executed in the refined stylistic tradition of Russian Art Nouveau and the “Mir Iskusstva” (“World of Art”) movement. The work depicts a nude woman reclining on a bed in a relaxed pose, holding a book in her hand, her head resting on a pink pillow. The interior, with its elegant draperies, carved headboard, and silver tea set, evokes the Rococo aesthetic and the culture of private life. The painterly style is characterized by a soft, impasto brushstroke, emphasizing the model’s sensuality and the decorative richness of the setting. In the lower right corner are the signature “K. Somov” and the date “1897.” The work is presented in a gilded oval frame with a museum-quality blue mat. On the reverse is an old collector’s label bearing the handwritten inscription: “K. Somov, 1869–1939,” within a decorative blue border.

Dimensions: Painting: 30 × 37 cm. Frame: approximately 50 × 60 cm

Material: Oil on cardboard

Condition: In good condition. The painting surface is clean and the paint layer is stable. Slight signs of aging are visible on the reverse and on the frame.

Provenance: European private collection. Part of the contents of a 19th-century Baltic villa