Two Seated Women, 1927

A characteristic feature of Hans Böhler’s (1884–1961) human depictions are his figures’ schematic faces. Their eyes appear like small black holes in the faces molded with color to produce a three-dimensional effect. In the 1927 painting Two Seated Women the ladies sitting on their chairs convey a static, doll-like impression. This makes them looks like parts of a still life. They are surrounded by an abstracted space with flower vases rendered in a muted yellow. Except for the cloth on her lap, the lady on the left is completely naked, while the straps of the other lady’s red dress have slipped down her shoulders. Yet, the work hardly conveys any sensuality or intimacy. Rather, it looks like a decorative arrangement of color fields put together in a Cubist manner.

RR, 2023