Moonlight and Roses 1940

Haddon Hubbard Sundblom made this painting, Moonlight and Roses, on an unknown date with oil paint. Look at the way Sundblom applies the paint; it's loose and gestural, capturing the scene's atmosphere with a real sense of immediacy. This feels like a scene caught in a fleeting moment, a kind of painterly snapshot. The texture of the paint is smooth but suggestive, with delicate strokes of the brush building up the forms and fabrics. Notice the way he layers thin glazes to create depth and luminosity in the skin tones of the subjects. In the folds of the pink dress, for example, the color is particularly luminous, with visible brushstrokes that create a sense of movement. This painting reminds me of John Singer Sargent's portraiture; there’s a similar attention to light and detail. Yet, Sundblom's touch is distinctive, embracing ambiguity and hinting at stories beyond what's depicted. Isn't that the fun of looking at art?