Leon Bakst (stststst's) Cat in the Form of a Woman.

Leon Bakst - The Supper.

I like everything about this painting, mostly though - that the woman reminds me so much of a cat.  From her coy, sly, feline smile - to the way her sleek arms are resting sphynx-like in front of her - to the train of her dress, trailing tail-like and curved.  Plus - if you're familiar with cat behavior... it seems the moment you dress a table - perfect and pristine... that's the exact time a cat wants to rest upon it!

The contrast here too - of Bakst's supping sitter - is lovely, the distribution of dark and light patches, interspersed with intermediate grey.  It isn't just the clever placement of dark and light, but the way in which they nestle against each other - boundaries, yet companions.

Those oranges, I love that touch - the roundness, the brightness, the way there's just a bit of orange-ness near the face of this feline woman... and some orange shadow in the cloth.

This is a painting I would like to study in close detail, wanting to know if these really are orange oranges - or are they just apples which look like oranges through my monitor.  And, with closer examination I would know if there were faint hints of color within the neutral areas of grey or brown.  Are they dull greys and browns - or are there smidgeons of blue or maroon within those neutrals.  The brushstrokes too, are something I like to study.  However, for now, I will just have to enjoy observing this cat-like lady, her kitten-mitten paws, and her rather Schiap Shoe-ish hat from a distance.