Frauenhände beim Nähen c. 1906

Giovanni Boldini made "Frauenhände beim Nähen" with oil paint, and the way he used that paint—well, it's a process you can almost feel. Check out the hands, they are not just hands, but the focal point. Boldini has laid down thin layers, with some opaque strokes giving the arms form, but the hands are a little more present. The colour here is really muted, mostly browns and greys with just a hint of pink, but it's so evocative. Look how the brushstrokes suggest the movement, and labor of the sewing. You can almost see the needle flashing. The handling of the paint is so confident, so loose, almost like a dance. I’m reminded of Manet or Degas, who had a similarly deft touch, capturing fleeting moments with an almost casual grace. All these artists were so good at making the process part of the point.