Roshanara 1919

Robert Henri made this painting of Roshanara with oil paints, though we don't know exactly when. Henri's got this way of letting the brushstrokes dance and play, not really fussing too much about perfection, but instead, trying to get the feel of the thing. The colors, they aren't trying to be real, but kinda sing with reds and blues. Look at how the paint sits on the canvas, thick in some spots, almost like he’s sculpting with it, and thin in others where you can see more of the canvas. It's like he's having a conversation with the paint, seeing what it can do. Check out the way he painted the veil, how it drapes and folds. There’s this sense of movement. Henri reminds me a bit of Manet, capturing a moment, but with a touch more warmth, maybe. It's not about getting it right, but about feeling it right. Art's just a big, messy conversation, right?