The Black Kimono 1903

William Merritt Chase painted “The Black Kimono” sometime in the late nineteenth century, on a canvas nearly two meters tall. Looking at the painting, I imagine Chase in his studio, surrounded by props, models, and various objects that ignited his imagination. The paint here is thinnish, applied in layers to capture the subtleties of light and shadow on the woman’s form and the folds of the kimono. See how the loose brushstrokes create a sense of movement and energy, as if the figure is caught in a fleeting moment. The dark palette gives the painting a moody, intimate quality. The artist must have wanted to capture not just her likeness, but also her inner presence. I like to think about how Chase's work participates in a larger conversation about portraiture. He was clearly looking at Velazquez and Whistler, but also bringing his own sensibility to the genre. All artists are in an ongoing exchange of ideas across time, inspiring one another’s creativity.