The title, Tête à pied (head-to-foot) is wordplay on the French expression “tête-à-tête,” meaning a private heart-to-heart conversation. This contemporary nude art photography exhibits some elements of surrealism. The piece explores curvature, with the snaking line bordering between the two women being the most prominent. The two are conjoined in a pose evocative of the iconic Yin and Yang symbol; two essential components comprising a whole.
The scarce shadows are essential to visually separating the two figures. The s-shape between the torsos is repeated in the womens’ arms. The curvature in this piece is balanced with an array of interesting diagonals. The interlocking shapes are reminiscent of graphic artists, such as M.C. Escher.
The robin’s egg blue is bright and airy, yet muted in comparison to the women’s’ warm figures that dominate the composition. Each woman’s ear is adorned with a blue and violet flower that resembles the background.
The viewer looks down on the figures from above, but the point of view is such that it appears the figures are being viewed straight-on. A lack of shadows on the floor contributes to the feeling that they are floating. The lack of contextual details in the background feeds the enigmatic feeling.
This piece of contemporary nude art photography exhibits a degree of rotational symmetry. It could be turned 180 degrees and make an equally coherent composition. The face near the top commands attention; the symmetry begs us to ponder the alternate orientation. Neither subject connects with the viewer, adding to the ambiguity. The both look off to the left, out of the picture frame.
