Tom Wesselmann's "Sunset Nudes" series (2002-2004) marks a significant period in the later stage of his career, showcasing a bold and unapologetic exploration of the female form, set against the backdrop of dramatic and colorful sunsets. This series can be seen as both a continuation and a culmination of themes that Wesselmann had explored throughout his career, blending elements of pop art with a deep appreciation for classical art traditions.
In his final years, Wesselmann's approach to art became more liberated, moving away from the concerns about reception that might have constrained him earlier in his career. This freedom allowed him to explore subject matters and styles in unexpected ways, leading to works that were more joyous and sometimes confounding to his followers. Despite having started his career with a focus on abstract art, Wesselmann is most recognized for his distinctive treatment of the female nude, a motif that he returned to throughout his career, culminating in the "Sunset Nudes" series (Almine Rech).
The "Sunset Nudes" series recalls the highly provocative and sexed-up blondes of Wesselmann's earlier "Great American Nudes" series, but with a refined and flawless light. These works are monumental in size and draw heavily on the magazine and billboard imagery of the 1960s, a decade that greatly influenced Wesselmann's artistic output. The series is characterized by swaths of bold colors tightly contained within contiguous lines, creating compositions that are both smooth and seductive. The figures in these paintings are Amazonian in stature, larger and more dominant than in his earlier works, recumbently posed and luxuriating across the canvas in a manner that recalls the legacy of both the reclining female form and the drawn line, hallmarks of Wesselmann's work that were greatly influenced by Matisse (Almine Rech) (Sothebys.com).
The "Sunset Nudes" are noted for their idealized, almost abstracted composite versions of Wesselmann's previous models, featuring flat expanses of color in slick, shiny applications. Interestingly, Wesselmann often omitted the most revealing facial feature, the eyes, from these figures, further reducing their bodies to ultra-slim white forms outlined between broad contours of fleshy pink tones. This stylistic choice suggests swaths of bright light flickering on the edge of the canvas, creating a vibrant contrast that is both striking and evocative (Almine Rech).
Wesselmann's work on the "Sunset Nudes" series was part of a parallel exploration of abstraction and figuration, a testament to his artistic versatility and his ability to embrace and integrate diverse elements of visual culture. Despite the differences between his abstract and figurative works, both share an intense color palette and a high degree of finish, embodying the artist's meticulous approach to art-making and his commitment to pushing the boundaries of conventional high art depictions of the female nude (Almine Rech) (Sothebys.com).
Through the "Sunset Nudes" series, Wesselmann invites viewers into a vivid, sensual world that bridges the gap between the past and the present, combining the pleasure and ease of classical art with the dynamic, immediate impact of pop art. This series not only reflects Wesselmann's enduring fascination with the female form but also serves as a powerful expression of his artistic legacy, demonstrating his ability to innovate and captivate audiences with his unique visual language (Sothebys.com).