In from a Stroll 1907

Konstantin Makovsky painted "In from a Stroll," probably in oil, with a real feel for how light defines form. The way he scumbles the paint, it's neither totally blended nor super thick, but just right to give this lady a soft, dreamy presence. Look at the edges of her hat, for instance; they almost dissolve into the background. And the pinks and yellows of her dress? They create this hazy, summery vibe that’s so tangible. There's this one little stroke of pure white right on her shoulder that just pops and brings the whole thing to life. It makes me think a bit of John Singer Sargent, someone else who knew how to make paint sing! What Makovsky is doing here feels like a painterly conversation, an ongoing exploration of light, color, and the joy of seeing.