Les chapeaux à brides (Schoolgirls Wearing Brimmed Hats) 1925 - 1929

Gwen John made this small painting of schoolgirls in hats with watercolor and graphite, and it feels like she’s feeling her way through the scene. The way John layers the muted greens and grays, building up the forms of the hats and dresses with delicate strokes, it’s like she's constructing the image bit by bit. You can almost see her thought process in the way the colors blend and blur. Look at the little touches of pink and white, like shy whispers amidst the somber tones. It's not just about depicting a scene; it's about capturing a mood, a feeling. John's work reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin in its quiet intensity and focus on subtle variations of color and tone. And like both those artists, it shows us that art is about embracing the unknown and trusting the process, even if it leads us down unexpected paths.