Blue Arabesque

Patricia Hampl's exploration of the odalisque begins with her discovery of a Matisse painting in Chicago, featuring an aloof woman gazing at goldfish. This figure, a secular counterpart to the nuns of Hampl's youth, sparks a journey into the allure of languid women in art, contrasting with the modern era's pace. The book transports readers from the Cote d'Azur to North Africa, encountering diverse writers and artists drawn to the south of France's light. Hampl's return to Matisse's obsessive portraits reveals them to be more than mere decorative indulgences.