Odalisque with Red Trousers (1922)
Henri Matisse’s painting of an odalisque clothed in a veil, sheer open blouse, and bright red trousers is part of the collection of the Centre Georges Pompidou of modern art in Paris, France. Matisse’s odalisque is positioned in the middle of the image, the position of her arms and legs opening her chest and torso to the viewer indicating the figure is below the sight line of the painting’s observer. Though comfortably seated in the brightly-colored room, the odalisque appears lost in flight, looking down and past the viewer, her evasion of the viewer’s glance decidedly less open then the blouse or veil pulled above her head that show off her face and chest.