Harriet Heide, f. Block 1901

Julius Paulsen made this large portrait of Harriet Heide, using oils, working the surface to create a sense of quiet dignity. You can almost feel the concentration in the act of painting itself. The work probably started with thin washes, each layer building up to reveal a face and figure through trial, error, and intuition. Imagine being Paulsen, staring intently, trying to capture the essence of his sitter! It looks as if he's thinned the paint to create luminous grays for the background. And then notice how he has built up the blacks of her dress. Isn’t it great how her hands create this little triangle, drawing you in? Painters are always in conversation, sharing ideas, and inspiring each other across time. This work makes me think of other painters such as Whistler and Manet, and their explorations of tone, and sombre palettes. Painting embraces ambiguity, inviting multiple interpretations and meaning.