Molière and Godolin 1907

Edouard Debat-Ponsan made this painting of Molière and Godolin, we don't know exactly when, but looking at it, you feel the time and care put into it. It's a scene where everything is observed and rendered with attention to the real effects of light and shadow. Up close, you can see Debat-Ponsan using the brush to shape the forms, like look at the way he uses the brushstrokes to create the folds in their clothes, giving the fabric a real sense of weight. The palette is earthy, with browns and greens dominating, but there are these moments of brighter color, like in the red of the serving girl's dress, that really pop. Notice the soft edges, how things blend together. Nothing is too sharp or defined. It gives the whole scene a dreamlike quality. This piece makes me think of later artists like Vuillard, who also had a knack for turning the everyday into something special. Art's just one big conversation, right?