Two Cocottes with Hats 1925

Gerda Wegener made this painting, 'Two Cocottes with Hats' with oil paint, and you can feel how she built it up, layer by layer. Look at those gorgeous, subtle greens and creamy whites that feel almost edible. I can imagine Wegener in her studio, maybe in Paris, trying to capture the fleeting expressions of these women. What were they thinking, what was she thinking? I bet she was thinking about colour! Her brushwork is so delicate and deliberate, especially in the details of their hats and the soft curves of their faces. It reminds me a little of Manet, in the way she captures a sense of modern life and femininity. You know, artists are always looking at each other's work; it's like a big conversation across time. It's like we are saying, "Hey, I see what you did there, and I'm gonna try something similar, but different!" And that's how we keep painting alive. It's a constant dialogue, a beautiful, messy, and never-ending conversation.