The Keynote 1915

William Merritt Chase made The Keynote with oils, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century, and the way he built this painting up is really interesting. It’s not about perfectly smooth surfaces, it's about these little touches, these dabs of color that create a mood. Look at the woman’s blue dress. It’s rendered in such a tactile way, isn't it? You can almost feel the fabric. Chase uses these little, visible brushstrokes to give it weight and form. They're not trying to trick your eye, it's more like he's saying, hey, this is paint, but it's also a dress, and it's also a feeling. And that dress, that color, is echoed in the wallpaper behind her. It reminds me a little of Manet, but with a softer touch. They’re both playing with realism, but in a way that feels so personal. I like how it holds onto its secrets, offering us just enough to get lost in the story.