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Who is the artist?
Morgan Russell

What is the name of the artwork?
Still Life Synchromy with Nude in Yellow

What materials were used?
Oil paint on canvas

Where is the artist from?
United States

When was the artwork made?
1913


Morgan Russell was born in New York City in 1886 and eventually moved to Paris, France, so he could learn more about art outside of the United States. This was also an opportunity for him to study under some great European artists, such as Henri Matisse. While in Paris, Russell loved to go to the very famous museum, the Louvre, to draw sculptures done by famous artists like Michelangelo. Russell also developed his very own style of art, called Synchromism. In synchromism, the subjects in the artwork form when the warm and cool colors are placed side by side.


This painting is very unique because the shape of the image is oval. The actual canvas that the image is painted on is a rectangle, but Russell painted the canvas’s corners to look like a frame around the oval. The bright colors in the oval are similar to those seen in a rainbow, and if you look carefully you can see a vase or pot with fruit on a table and a figure in the background. The figure in the background is thought to be from a sculpture done by Michelangelo.

What objects can you find in the artwork? Where do you see them?

What does this painting remind you of? Have you ever seen anything like it before? How would you describe this painting to someone who has never seen it before?

How does this painting make you feel? Happy? Sad? Confused?

Do you like the colors the artist chose to use in this painting? Why or why not?


Cool colors - Colors that remind you of cool things: blue, green, and violet.
Warm colors - Colors that remind you of warm things: red, yellow, and orange.