Agnes in Red (Agnes Schleicher) 1921

Robert Henri made this portrait of Agnes Schleicher in oil paint, sometime around the turn of the century. Look at the brushstrokes here, how they build up this young girl's face and clothes with such a feeling of immediacy. There's a beautiful dance between the warm reds and oranges of her dress and the cool, dark background. See how Henri lets the brushstrokes remain visible, almost like he's inviting us into his process? It’s like he’s saying, "Here’s how I saw her, here's how I made her appear on the canvas." Focus on the way the light catches her cheek. You can almost feel the warmth of it, right? It’s this combination of color, texture, and light that makes the painting so alive. It reminds me of Velazquez and Manet. They were also masters of capturing light and form with such confidence and fluidity. It's not about perfection, it's about capturing a fleeting moment, and letting the painting breathe. It's about the ongoing conversation that paintings have with one another across time.