Portrait of the Artist's Daughter (Dorothy) 1879

William Merritt Chase painted this portrait of his daughter Dorothy with oil on canvas. Note the loose brushwork and how it defines the girl's frilly white dress, almost impressionistic in its execution. The artist also seems to have thinned the paint to make it run slightly, in order to give a sense of light, shadow, and movement. The material quality of the oil paint is key here. Chase was part of a generation of American artists who embraced the medium for its versatility and expressive potential. The texture of the paint, applied in visible strokes, adds a sense of immediacy and intimacy to the portrait, capturing a fleeting moment in Dorothy's childhood. This approach to painting was embraced by Chase and his contemporaries, who moved away from more academic, highly finished styles of the past. By focusing on the materiality of paint and the act of painting itself, Chase elevates this portrait beyond a mere likeness, inviting us to appreciate the craft and skill involved in its creation. It's not just a picture of a girl; it's a testament to the power of paint.