Repose

John White Alexander (1856–1915) was an American painter of portraiture known for his paintings of beautiful women in interior settings.

He began his career as an illustrator in New York but left to pursue painting full time. He spent several years abroad studying and settled in Paris for 10 years, where he gained prominence as an exponent of the Art Nouveau trend. He was a part of the Aesthetic Movement (art for art's sake), which focused more on art being beautiful than exploring deeper meaning. In 1891, he returned to New York City where he became a very successful and sought-after painter of portraits.

Repose (1895) shows a woman wearing a loosely flowing white silk gown as she lounges languorously across a piece of furniture in an interior setting. Some Art Nouveau influence can be seen in his use of smooth, sinuous curves depicted in the painting. His fluid brushwork and dimly lit background create an evocative dreamy mood as if the woman was just awakened from a nap. The soft edges and subtly rich colors add to the overall beauty of the painting, capturing a sense of tranquility.

Alexander’s works can be found today in private collections as well as museums across the United States.

Have a calm Saturday everyone!

- Heidi Werber

P.S. Here are 10 art masterpieces to calm your anxiety. <3