Maurice Barraud (Geneva 1889-1954)

Oil on Canvas

This striking portrait is a premier example of Maurice Barraud’s post-Impressionist style, focusing on the intimate and lyrical depiction of the female form. The composition features a woman seated in a relaxed, cross-legged pose upon a white, ruffled divan or bedding. She wears a vibrant red strapless corset that provides a bold focal point against the pale, cream-colored fabric and her own luminous skin tones.
Barraud employs his signature fluid and gestural brushwork, particularly evident in the rendering of the white drapery, which creates a sense of tactile softness and movement. The subject’s contemplative expression and the delicate pink flower tucked into her dark hair add a romantic, almost poetic quality to the work. The background is handled with a muted green and dark burgundy palette, used to push the figure forward and enhance the overall atmospheric depth. Signed 'Barraud' (lower right). Oil on canvas 100 x 80 cm