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Alice Neel

The Pregnant Woman

Neel painted her daughter-in-law, Nancy, nude and in the last week of pregnancy. Considering the perpetual presence of the condition, there are surprisingly few images of pregnant women. Neel's work is remarkable for including at least eight pregnant nudes. "I thought the whole picture of woman without pregnancy was . . . trivial," Neel said. "It's treating woman as sex object. But you know, sex results in something." The painting depicts Nancy at ease despite the obvious physical strain of this late pregnancy that resulted in twins. Directly behind Nancy's head hangs Neel's drawing of Richard, the husband, father, and son.