The Tease

The Tease, painted in 1901, introduces a note of psychological animation and social interaction that distinguishes it from Godward's more contemplative single-figure subjects. A figure is shown in a teasing or playful attitude—perhaps toward a viewer or an unseen companion—the expression and gesture combining to suggest the lighthearted social play that 'tease' implies. Godward rarely attempted overt emotional expression in his figures, preferring the inward or neutral expressions of reverie and contemplation, and this canvas is notable for its more explicitly social and psychological subject.

The figure's expression of gentle provocation or playfulness is rendered through the combination of a slight smile and a body posture turned toward engagement rather than withdrawal, the subtle animation of the face contrasting with Godward's more typical expressions of serene detachment. The classical setting provides the usual architectural and material precision.