Naked Woman Lying on a Couch

Gustave Caillebotte rendered this work around 1880-1882, creating his only female nude. The painting was never exhibited during his lifetime, which curators suggest indicates his lack of interest in the subject. Unlike academic nudes that idealized their subjects, Caillebotte depicted a real modern woman with uncompromising anatomical realism.

The woman has just removed her clothing, tossing it haphazardly on the couch. The indented line of her undergarment remains visible above her waist. She appears tired, shielding her eyes with one arm as if sleeping. The subject may be Charlotte Berthier, Caillebotte's longtime companion. There is no attempt to idealize her or place her in seductive poses common to the period.

This Impressionist work remains in a private collection. Caillebotte often reversed gendered expectations in his paintings, depicting men in poses typically reserved for women. Scholar Kirk Varnedoe called this a "realist nude" that "belongs to a story," making it unique among Impressionist figure paintings.