Grande Odalisque By Jean Auguste Dominique Ingre

Grande Odalisque by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres is widely agreed upon to be one of the most alluring and seemingly controversial paintings of its time. The oil painting depicts a female nude lying on her side with her back toward the viewer upon a dark blue quilted bed. With nothing but jewelry and a turban on, she gazes over her shoulder giving the viewers a somewhat inviting look. In this piece, Ingres paints vague detail in the woman’s face only showing basic facial features and minimal expression. In the top right corner blue drapery flows down hitting the bed, along with a blue and gold hookah in the bottom corner giving off smoke, with the female nude appearing as the focal point. As we see her face, we can see a sense of poise and calmness, leading us to believe this painting portrays an impression of self-absorbed beauty with a deeper meaning. This said, however, art pieces have been critiqued and questioned through philosophical views to understand the relationship between the representation and truth. With these philosophical ideas, we are able to analyze and understand the different meanings behind such pieces. In this essay I will elaborate on both
The panting itself consists of various elements and ideas which all contribute to its distinctiveness. Presented on a long, horizontal canvas, Ingres paints the female body taking up the entire canvas, making her body the prime focus. Using limited colors, Ingres is able to contrast the female body with her warm skin tones against the deep rich blue background and bed she lies on. With this, he uses minimal lighting, and soft shadowing along the body, accentuating and elongating her features, giving her a more sensuous look. Although female nudes are considered common during this period, Ingres’ use of anatomical distortions and seductive look leads viewers to question the meaning behind this particular