Female, Nude: A Seductive Drama of Art and Rivalry on a Greek Island
Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett's unsettling second novel, Female, Nude, transports readers to the sun-drenched Cyclades in the summer of 2019. The story follows Sophie Evans, a reckless and struggling artist, as she joins her wealthy university friends—Helena, Iris, and Alessia—for a hen week to celebrate Helena's impending marriage. Despite the idyllic setting of a luxurious villa with endless cocktails and gourmet meals, Sophie feels distinctly out of place in this atmosphere of "almost offensive" good taste.
The Stark Contrasts of Friendship and Fortune
Over the decade since their student days, the disparities between the women have sharpened dramatically. Iris, elegant and aloof, benefits from parental wealth with a home in Peckham and a career in publishing. Alessia, a spoilt art dealer from a family with deep pockets, seems to wield ownership over the very island they're visiting. Helena aspires to a life as a trophy wife surrounded by "nice things." In stark contrast, Sophie comes from a working-class background—her father is an electrician, and her mother cares full-time for Sophie's disabled sister—and she toils in a museum shop while chasing her artistic dreams.
Sophie's personal life adds another layer of tension. Her reliable boyfriend, Greg, a curator, pressures her to start a family, but Sophie craves the freedom to paint. This conflict intensifies when Alessia commissions a nude portrait from Sophie, to be created in a private studio on the island. The arrival of Ky, a charismatic waiter and archaeologist, ignites simmering rivalries, turning unease into something far more dangerous and toxic.
Artistic Introspection and Historical Echoes
As Sophie grapples with her desires, artistic needs, and societal expectations, the narrative reveals that this account is penned from a distant, shadowy future. The island story is interspersed with brief, reflective passages where Sophie engages with female artists from history, such as Artemisia Gentileschi and Francesca Woodman. In museums and galleries over the years, she deconstructs their experiences, juxtaposing them against her own struggle for creative fulfilment.
This structure allows the novel to oscillate between the immediate drama of the Greek idyll—building toward the arrival of the men and an impending disaster—and these deeper meditations on art and identity. Cosslett, a Guardian columnist, excels in rendering sensual details: the play of light, the allure of food, and the nuances of physical pleasure. She crafts a seductive drama of female friendship in a glamorous, White Lotus-esque locale while simultaneously offering a serious-minded interrogation of artistic pursuit.
Ambitious Themes and Narrative Challenges
Female, Nude is an energetic and ambitious work that delves into the complex burdens of motherhood and the trade-offs women must negotiate between their bodies, societal norms, and creative ambitions. However, this triple-threaded approach—blending hen-week antics, artistic analysis, and existential questions—can at times feel unwieldy. The artistic reflections, while intriguing, occasionally come across as clunky, as if inserted to lend gravitas to a narrative that inherently resists it.
Characterisation proves somewhat uneven. Helena's bridezilla persona is serviceable but lacks depth, Iris remains an icy cipher, and her partner Edwin feels almost theoretical. Yet, Sophie herself is vividly drawn—a messy, resentful 31-year-old, solipsistic and ruthless, yet utterly convincing as an artist in the making. Her interactions with Ky, though pure romantic fantasy, grant her a delightful freedom that makes for compelling reading.
Despite its flaws, Cosslett's seriousness of intent commands respect. Female, Nude is a watchable, if not always likable, exploration of ambition, envy, and the relentless pursuit of artistic truth. Published by Tinder at £18.99, this novel promises to captivate readers with its blend of high-stakes drama and profound thematic depth.
