Portrait De Jeune Femme 1925

María Blanchard painted this portrait of a young woman, and you can see that she’s not afraid to leave the evidence of her process right there on the canvas. Look at how the paint is laid down in these blocky, almost sculptural strokes. There’s a real physicality to it, as if Blanchard is building up the image layer by layer. Take a look at the collar of her dress. See how the whites and grays are mixed to create form? There’s a vulnerability in leaving the marks so raw, like a glimpse behind the curtain of illusion. The way Blanchard blends colors gives the form depth. It reminds me a little of Picasso, a contemporary of hers, although Blanchard brings her own unique sensibility to the portrait. It's a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, each artist building upon the ideas of those who came before. And, let's be honest, a little bit of ambiguity keeps things interesting, right?