L’arrivée Des Midinettes 1901

Jean Béraud painted ‘L’arrivée Des Midinettes’ in 1901 using oil on canvas, and you can almost smell the rain coming off the canvas! Béraud captures a street scene with a subdued palette, all greys and browns, except for the splashes of color in the women's hats. The brushwork is delicate, almost feathery, creating a sense of movement and fleeting moments. It makes me think about how paintings don't just represent a scene, they embody a whole way of seeing. Look at the reflection of the buildings in the wet street, he has captured the light reflecting off the puddles with these subtle, almost imperceptible variations of tone. It’s a masterful handling of tone and texture. It’s like he's inviting us to participate in the everyday poetry of the city. There’s something about the intimate scenes he captures that reminds me of Toulouse-Lautrec, but Béraud’s got a charm all his own. Ultimately, painting is about possibilities and Béraud leaves us plenty to imagine.