“The Toilet in the Morning” is a notable artwork by Fernando Botero, created in 1971. This work falls under the Naïve Art movement, particularly Primitivism, and is categorized within the genre of nude painting (nu). The artwork depicts a voluptuous female figure standing with her back to the viewer. She is engaged in the intimate act of examining her visage with a hand-held mirror, a traditional symbol of vanity and self-reflection.
The figure’s exaggerated and rounded proportions are characteristic of Botero’s distinctive style, emphasizing volume and sensuous curves. The scene is set in a domestic interior, presumably a bedroom, where a bed can be partially seen to the right and a vanity with a large mirror to the left, aligning with the title of the artwork and suggesting the routine of a woman’s preparation at the start of the day. The woman’s hair is gathered into a voluminous, braided updo, adorned with a black bow, adding an element of elegance to her otherwise unadorned form. The palette of the painting is muted, with subtle variations of cream, beige, and ochre contributing to a quiet and introspective atmosphere. The presence of everyday objects such as bottles on the vanity and a pillow on the floor further grounds the work in a relatable reality, while the stylized execution elevates the scene to the realm of art.
