Mid-Century Modern Seated Nude by Van Essche

This is an original oil on canvas painting depicting a female nude figure seated on a classic wooden chair, viewed from behind. The piece is signed in the upper right corner as "Van Essche," likely an attribution to the Belgian-South African modernist Maurice van Essche (1906–1977) or a follower of his signature school. The composition is characterized by bold, expressionistic brushwork and a muted yet vibrant color palette featuring a stark red vertical panel on the left, contrasting with a deep teal or forest green background. The figure is rendered in pale yellow and off-white tones, emphasizing the curvature of the back and the downward pose of the head. The subject is partially draped in a white cloth at the base. The artwork is housed in a carved wooden frame with a decorative, scalloped outer edge and an inner white linen liner. The physical condition appears consistent with a mid-20th-century age; the canvas shows minor signs of tension variations, and the frame exhibits some surface wear and dust accumulation. The style is indicative of European Modernism transitioned through South African influences, focusing on simplification of form and emotional resonance through color. The craftsmanship shows confident application of impasto in areas, particularly in the highlights of the flesh and the background texture.