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

Gwen John made this painting of schoolgirls wearing brimmed hats with thin washes of color, probably in the early twentieth century. It's like a memory, seen through a veil. I imagine John, brush in hand, circling those hats, again and again, trying to capture their quiet somberness. There's such a stillness to the scene, like a paused moment in time. The green is muted, almost grey, which gives it a melancholy feel. I can almost feel the artist's breath on the paper as she coaxes the image into being. And that pink cheek! It’s like a tiny burst of rebellion against all the green and grey. It reminds me of other women painters like Berthe Morisot, capturing fleeting moments of everyday life with such sensitivity. We’re all just trying to figure it out, one brushstroke at a time. The way she uses color and light to create mood is so inspiring. I'm in conversation with all of them, all the time, and you are too.