The Rescue of Gismonda 1906

J.C. Leyendecker made "The Rescue of Gismonda" with oil paints and brushes, the kind you might find in an illustrator's studio. The colors are rich, like honey and emerald, but it’s the making that really hooks me. Look at the way the light catches the folds of the woman's gown. See that brushwork? It’s so deliberate, almost fussy, but then he lets the paint run a bit, especially around the edges. That tension between control and letting go? That’s the good stuff! And the poor man lying on the floor - the texture on his face is so precise and realistic, but his pose is exaggerated and staged. This tension is something Leyendecker plays with a lot. Think about Norman Rockwell - there’s something similar going on, but Leyendecker does it with a wink and a nudge. The best art always leaves room for doubt.