Lesbia and Her Sparrow 1907

Edward John Poynter made this painting, Lesbia and Her Sparrow, without giving it a date, using oil on canvas. The painting feels smooth. Look at the robe in shades of purple, it suggests a softness achieved with blended brushstrokes. I imagine Poynter patiently layering thin glazes of color. You can almost feel the weight of the grapes in her hands, which is set off by the lightness of the sparrow on her wrist. Poynter was obviously looking at the old masters, like Titian, who knew how to create a believable, sensual surface. You know? It’s like he’s in conversation with them across time, trying to figure out the same problems of light and form. Ultimately, painting's an embodied practice. Artists look, consider, and add their own perspective. They are in an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity.