Portrait of His Wife Berta 

Editor: We're now looking at Eduard Veith's painting, “Portrait of His Wife Berta.” Though undated, it's rendered in oil paint, using visible impasto strokes. She has a gentle gaze. How do you see this portrait interacting with the traditions of realism and romanticism? Curator: This Berta, swathed in fur and subtle glamor, invites us into a private moment, a shared glance between artist and muse, husband and wife. Note the impasto work. Feel the fur’s texture. Doesn't that interplay of light and shadow caress the contours of her face and clothing? Veith masterfully uses realism as a grounding force while embracing the romantic notion of idealizing his subject. Editor: The little dog is great too. Do you think that Berta would have sat for very long while Veith did this painting? Curator: Ah, the loyal companion adds an additional note to the intimate and familial tenor of this composition! My mind's eye sees multiple sittings, I would imagine. Certainly it's about artistic execution, of course, but it's also an act of loving attention. And perhaps this is why that gaze she gives feels so genuine to us. The real, softened by love, captured with masterful brushwork. Wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Definitely, it’s lovely to imagine their relationship while considering the painting’s more formal qualities. It makes me appreciate both even more. Curator: It does for me, too! I'll always find a compelling and intriguing balance here between intimate glimpses and carefully constructed presentation. Each time I see this portrait, I feel as if I'm discovering something new about it and about them.