Woman's Head 1922

Paul-Albert Besnard made this head of a woman in oil paint, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century, and it's all about the process. Look at how the brushstrokes build up the form, especially around the eyes and mouth. It's like he's sculpting with color. The paint is thin in places, allowing the canvas to peek through, and thicker in others, giving a tactile quality. See how the light catches on the ridges of paint, creating a subtle shimmer? That, to me, is where the magic happens. There's a real tenderness in the way Besnard handles the paint, a palpable sense of connection with his subject. The woman's hand, resting so gently, feels particularly resonant. The way the light falls across her face reminds me of Degas, but with a softer, more romantic touch. Art is just a conversation between artists across time, isn’t it? Ultimately, this painting embraces ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own experiences and interpretations to the work.