One of the foremost American figurative painters of the 20th century, Alice Neel (1900-84) was a humanist, she was fascinated by people. Known for her daringly honest portraits, Neel loved to paint people in all their complexities to penetrate and reveal their fears and anxieties. She also loved to paint the unadorned human figure. Her nudes, in particular, explore the body with frankness while celebrating the individuality of each of her subjects, and they exemplify the freedom and courage with which she approached her work and her life.0Through her paintings and works on paper, Neel was able to free herself from the expected inhibitions and crippling taboos that were placed on women and focus on the beauty and nuanced complexity of flesh and the human body. In their mastery of form, color and implied social commentary, her nudes are as relevant today as when they were painted.00Exhibition: David Zwirner Gallery, New York, USA (26.02.-13.04.2019).
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