Miçao KÔNO (1876–1954) – Reclining Female Nude

Oil on canvas

Signed “Miçao Kôno” lower left, with his monogram.

Dated “XXXVII” (1937).

Antique frame.

Dimensions: 46 × 61 cm

In this horizontal composition, Miçao Kono depicts a young nude woman reclining on a bed of fabrics and cushions. With her head supported by her hands, the model looks at the viewer with an expression that is both dreamy and confident. Her carefully waved red hair, pronounced makeup, and vermilion nails give the figure an almost theatrical presence.

The painter contrasts the luminous softness of the body, rendered in a range of pearly whites, pinks, and ivory tones, with the darker, more vaporous shades of the background. In the background, cushions in turquoise, green, and coral tones introduce colorful accents that structure the space without disturbing the overall harmony. The delicate modeling of the skin, the stylization of the features, and the fluidity of the contours contribute to the decorative elegance of the composition.

A representative work of interwar glamour painting, in which the sensuality of the subject is combined with a pursuit of chromatic refinement and decorative grace.