The Love Letter 1902

Eugene de Blaas painted "The Love Letter" with oil on panel. The smooth finish and warm color palette give this a sentimental, almost dreamy feel. The artist has clearly embraced a process which uses smooth, blended strokes. The texture, or lack thereof, is really striking here. Look at the folds of her skirt or the way light hits the stone steps. De Blaas builds depth by layering thin glazes of color, creating a luminous effect. It almost obscures the physicality of the medium. There is a very conscious attempt to disguise the hand of the artist. But then look at her expression - the coy smile, the way she holds the letter. It is this play of concealing and revealing that gives the piece so much energy. It reminds me a little of someone like John Singer Sargent, who also had an interest in the intimate lives of their sitters, or the paintings of Lawrence Alma-Tadema which suggest a world which is both hyper-real and completely constructed. Art often embraces ambiguity, leaving room for us to bring our own interpretations.