Lili Elbe 1922

Gerda Wegener made this painting of Lili Elbe with oil on canvas, and I think you can really see the artist working through the painting, like a record of decision making. There is something soft and very present about this painting, with all these pinks and purples, which are colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel so there is a pleasing harmony to the painting. Wegener is really pushing paint around on the canvas, and you can see the layers in the face and the background, but it's not overworked. I am drawn to the mark making in the background, those blocky shapes seem like they could almost be anything, but they create a perfect backdrop. It reminds me a little of Alice Neel's portraits, in that they are both very honest portrayals of people. There is something so beautiful about Wegener's ability to capture the essence of a person.