In this painting, Atieh Sohrabi captures a familiar Saturday night scene of a woman lounging unselfconsciously. Moments in which
women can unaffectedly experience their bodies are few and far between: they are often encouraged to wear constraining undergarments,
suck in their stomachs, and sit stiffly to hide any signs of “imperfection.” In this whimsical artwork, Sohrabi celebrates the
simple pleasure of lying back and relaxing. While the woman’s reclining, topless pose is a subtle reference to an Orientalist odalisque,
the framing of her legs, which creates a distance between her and the viewer, refashions her exposure to one that is wholly
her own. Born in Iran, Sohrabi studied industrial and product design at the Azad University of Art and Architecture in Tehran.
Since then, Sohrabi has illustrated a number of children’s books, and several award-winning magazines. She works as a graphic
designer in New York.
