Trachtenmädchen 1925

Cuno Amiet made this oil painting, Trachtenmädchen, maybe in the early 20th century, and I can only imagine the artist's thinking and what it was like to create. It's clear Amiet wasn't interested in hyperrealism. Instead, look at those beautiful, simple brushstrokes that make up the girl's traditional dress, and the overall muted color palette, evoking a sense of nostalgia, or perhaps a longing for a simpler time. The paint looks thin, almost like watercolor in places, which gives the painting a light, airy quality. I wonder if Amiet was thinking of Cézanne as he built up the form of the girl with these strokes? The girl is just there, an understated presence. I imagine him stepping back from the canvas, squinting, adding touches of color here and there until, yes, she feels complete. It's not about perfection; it's about capturing a feeling, a memory, with paint.