The artwork “Pause” was created by artist Jenny Saville between 2002 and 2003. It is a striking work that belongs to the Neo-Expressionism movement, characterized by its raw, dynamic execution and emotional intensity. The genre of this piece is figurative nude painting (nu), which emphasizes the depiction of the human body in an expressive manner.
The artwork presents a close-up and unvarnished portrayal of a female figure, painted with a vivid sense of physicality and texture. The subject is depicted with an unidealized honesty, capturing the weight and substance of human flesh. The use of broad, gestural brushstrokes and a palette that merges warm flesh tones with stark whites and deep shadows conveys a sense of movement and depth.
There is a palpable sense of both vulnerability and strength within the subject, whose closed eyes and upturned face may suggest a moment of repose or introspection. The paint is applied in a manner that is both thick and fluid, exhibiting the tactile qualities of skin and the materiality of paint itself. Details such as the tracing of veins and the depiction of skin folds further enhance the raw and unfiltered representation of the human form.
As a Neo-Expressionist work, “Pause” reflects a return to figurative painting and the human subject, infused with personal expression and emotive force, moving away from the conceptual abstract tendencies that were prominent in the art that preceded this movement. The large scale and impactful presence of the figure give the artwork a compelling immediacy that engages the viewer in a direct and intimate encounter.
