Ester Sihtola 1934

Eero Järnefelt made this portrait of Ester Sihtola in 1934, most likely with pastels. You can almost feel the waxy, chalky material being layered onto the page. I can imagine the artist gently building up the image, perhaps using his fingers to rub and blend the colors. The composition feels quite formal, even classical. The sitter is gazing off to the side, lost in thought. But there's something very intimate and direct about it too. The choice of a muted, earthy palette is interesting. It’s as if the artist wants to capture not just the likeness of the sitter, but also something of her inner life, her temperament. I think of Vuillard, his palette, his sense of interiority. But Järnefelt’s touch feels lighter, less weighted down by history. Ultimately, it's about a conversation between artists across time, each bringing their own perspective and experiences to the act of seeing and representing the world.