Portrait of Kizette 1924

Tamara de Lempicka must have used oils to conjure this rosy vision of a young girl. The pinks and grays of the child's tunic, the softly draped background, they all seem to emerge from a dream. I imagine Lempicka, brush in hand, carefully building up layers of color, chasing after the perfect sheen on the girl’s blonde curls. What was she thinking as she captured the girl's knowing gaze? The material itself seems so smooth, almost like porcelain, but with the warmth of human skin. Look how a single brushstroke defines the curve of her calf, confident and sure. Painters are always looking at painters, and I see echoes of Bronzino and other old masters in Lempicka's work. It's like she's having a conversation with the art of the past, while creating something utterly modern. It's a reminder that painting is an ongoing journey, each artist building on the discoveries of those who came before.