Tamara Lempicka (1898 Warsaw - 1980 Cuernavaca), Nude in the Back (Un nu de femme de dos).

carbon, paper, 34.6 × 26.7 cm
Signature stamped p. d.: "Lempicka"

Provenance:
- Atelier of the artist
- private collection, United States
- Christie's Auction House, Impressionist Moderne auction, New York, 10.03.2010, item 58.
- Private collection, Poland

Exhibited:
- "Tamara Lempicka - a woman on a journey," National Museum in Lublin, March 18-August 14, 2022.
- "Tamara Lempicka a art déco. Tradition and Modernity," Villa la Fleur, September 2, 2022 - January 31, 2023.
Reproduced:
- "Tamara Lempicka a art déco. Tradition and Modernity", [Warsaw 2022], cat. 39, p. 132 - exhibition catalog
- "Tamara Lempicka. Drawing/Drawing," introduction by M. A. Potocka, Olszanica 2022, p. 20.

"The most common subject of the drawings are female nudes. The woman, her pose, the perversity of her nudity, the coquettishness of her gesture, the power contained in the construction of her body - these are the basic words from Lempicka's dictionary of art. All these tricks have been repeatedly rehearsed in sketches. The way drawing is used clearly indicates its servitude to painting. Tamara Lempicka exercises and tests on these - beautiful and vigilantly undressed - bodies the meanings that result from
from the expression, the tension, the emphasis or exaggeration of muscles, the dancing arrangement of poses (...). Lempicka exercised her ear for meaning by making many drawings on the same subject. She repeated poses, listened to their whispers, practiced the sense of the body's contours and the exposure of shape provided by shadow. The drawing knowledge manifested itself in full talent in the paintings. Each figure was given maximum voice on its own behalf. That's why Tamara's women are so fascinating, they are manifestations of a completed, rich and unprecedented femininity."

"Lempicka. Drawings," introduction by M. A. Potocka, published by Bosz, Olszanica 2022, p. 4.




"Silhouette completely Parisian. Large, bright, penetrating eyes, blond hair and a Greek nose, slightly bent. Lips crimsoned, fingernails pronounced ochre. (...) Dream outfits, furs most expensive! It arouses interest already by its appearance. (...) Whoever has seen her painting at least once, remembers the name and surname: Tamara Lempicka. Her painting has definite individual qualities. Strong in drawing
and construction, is distinguished by boldness of approach and color."


Garrick., Warszawianka - an attraction of Paris exhibitions, "World" 1932, No. 50, p. 8.