About: The Blue Room (Valadon)

The Blue Room (La chambre bleue) is a 1923 oil-on-canvas painting by French artist Suzanne Valadon. One of her most recognizable works, it has been called a radical subversion of the traditional female nude in art. Like many of Valadon's later works, it uses strong colors and emphasizes decorative backgrounds and patterned materials. Valadon uses these techniques among others to create a full portrayal of her female subject relevant to her social era—moving her value away from solely being related to her physical attributes. As a whole, Valadon's artistic decisions create an image of a modern 20th century woman—contrasting the depictions created by her predecessors and leaving a legacy for future female artists.