The Ermine Muff 1903

William James Glackens made "The Ermine Muff" with oil on canvas, probably in his studio, maybe on a grey day. I love to imagine Glackens layering the paint, shifting between the velvety darkness of the woman's dress, and the creamy highlights on her ermine muff. What was he thinking as he added those quick strokes to her scarf? Did he keep stepping back to get a sense of the overall balance of the composition, or was he totally immersed in the moment-to-moment process? The colours are really singing! That small detail is so simple and understated. But it gives the whole painting an intimate and modern feel. It reminds me a little of Manet, but in a uniquely American way. Glackens and other painters like him, were pushing the boundaries of traditional portraiture, capturing the energy and rhythms of modern life. It's like they're all talking to each other across time, riffing off each other's ideas.