Woman's pause, 2025
Natalya Mougenot

This contemporary expressionist painting "Woman's Pause" was created by French artist Natalya Mougenot and makes part of her ongoing series dedicated to Women.

In this series, Natalya explores the many layers of femininity—beyond the visible form—highlighting emotional depth, intellectual presence, spiritual connection, and inner strength. Each artwork becomes a personal journey, examining identity, vulnerability, resilience, and transformation. Inspired by her own life experiences during a pivotal period of change, Natalya channels this awakening into her creative process, making each piece deeply intimate and resonant.

In "Woman's Pause," the artist draws inspiration from the expressive style of Henri Matisse, particularly his use of bold colors and fluid, abstract forms. Like Matisse, she uses blue not merely as a background but as an emotional landscape—symbolizing openness, intuition, and stillness. The simplified, stylized female figure emerges as both subject and symbol within this emotive field, where movement and silence co-exist.

Rendered in bold brushstrokes and expressive contours, the central figure dominates the composition with elongated limbs and a strong, grounded presence. Warm, earthy tones contrast with a vivid red for the hair, set against a vibrant blue background that envelops the subject in a contemplative stillness. The semi-abstract style focuses on mood and motion rather than realism, inviting the viewer to look inward and engage with the emotional narrative.

Natalya describes the piece as a visual meditation on reflection and solitude:

"While working on this piece, I was keeping an image of a woman who is sitting alone—but she is not lonely. She is in solitude, contemplating, taking a pause, as if wanting the world to stop so she could think: what has happened, what is happening, or what might come next."

She adds:

"Sometimes we run away from ourselves. But here, the idea is to make a pause—to reflect on our inner world."

The painting showcases a distinctive blend of expressionism, abstract art, and art naïve. This stylistic fusion creates a dynamic composition and a powerful emotional resonance. Natalya explains:

"I used an audacious color palette with a combination of styles to depict the woman as she truly is."

Every inch of the canvas is intentionally filled—there are no empty spaces. As the artist notes:

"On every canvas, I leave no space untouched. I use every inch to express the energy, thoughts, and emotions that flow through me—mostly through bold, vivid colors. It's my way of adding more joy and intensity to the world around me."

True to her intuitive and emotionally driven approach, Natalya allows each piece to unfold naturally. Her work resonates with the growing trend of "dopamine art"—where vibrant colors elevate mood and offer a sensory experience. These hues are not mere decoration; they carry emotional weight and speak directly to the viewer.

At the heart of Natalya's practice lies a commitment to authenticity and emotional honesty. She believes in the power of clear, sincere expression:

"This piece, like all my work, is a reflection of who I am—how I see the world, how I wish to see it, and what I hope to bring into it."

Her ultimate message is one of freedom and empowerment:

"I want to show the freedom of a woman. I wish all modern women had this chance to feel free—in their movements, in their thoughts, and in their actions."

"Woman's Pause" is more than a painting—it is a quiet yet powerful statement. An invitation to connect with oneself through the language of color, form, and emotion.

Artwork Details:

Medium: Watercolor on heavyweight, acid-free Fabriano paper (Italian)

Finish: Sealed with protective varnish

Framing: Unframed (standard size for easy framing)

Images of the painting framed in the interior are for your Instagram only 

Certificate of Authenticity: Included

Shipping: Carefully packaged; international delivery available

Signed on the front and on the back 

About the Artist: 

Originally from Pavlodar, Kazakhstan, and now based in Lyon, France, Natalya Mougenot has spent over two decades refining her artistic voice. Her multicultural background and personal experience inform her bold, expressive works, which have found homes in private collections around the world.

Natalya's distinctive visual language blends Abstract Expressionism, Impressionism, Art Naïf, and Art Brut—resulting in paintings that are raw, instinctive, and emotionally resonant. Across her work, three values guide her: authenticity, sincerity, and honesty.

“Authenticity is everything," she says. “People can always feel when something is real—or when it's not. I want my work to be honest, to come from a place that's true."

In addition to painting, Natalya is also a passionate photographer. Her photographic work—also featured on this platform—mirrors her painterly sensibility: a poetic, observational approach that captures the quiet power of everyday life. For her, photography is both inspiration and a form of presence, often serving as visual sketches for future paintings or existing as standalone works.

Discover more of Natalya Mougenot's work—both paintings and photographs—and step into a world where movement, emotion, and human connection are expressed with striking clarity and truth.