Vestito a fiori azzurri

Gnoli first gained recognition in Europe for his attention to ordinary objects, which he depicted with ambiguity through his distinctive cropping of shapes and his use of light to define form. While many American artists emphasize images taken from popular culture, Gnoli found his subject matter in familiar, domestic objects, such as clothing. In this painting, the rounded shape of a woman's behind becomes the vehicle for a study in light and texture. The silhouetted form dominates the composition, exceeding the boundaries of the painting's edge and creating a tension that is both formal and humorous. Gnoli uses trompe l'oeil ("fool the eye") techniques to create a believable wrinkled effect in the pattern of the fabric stretched across his subject. The addition of sand to the paint plays with the tactile qualities of the surface, giving even more substance to the object.