Two women Chatherinettes Paris Sun 1905

Isaac Israels made "Two Women Chatherinettes Paris Sun" with oil on canvas, and what strikes me immediately is the bravura of the brushwork, like he’s skating on the surface. Look at the way he renders the flowers in their bonnets, dabs of yellow that pop against the more muted tones of their dresses. There's a freedom in his application of paint, a willingness to let the medium be itself, thick and juicy, that speaks to an understanding of artmaking as a process of discovery. He’s like Manet, in a way, but maybe a little more cozy, a little less confrontational. What interests me most is the way he uses color and texture to create a sense of depth and volume. The dark, almost brooding tones of the women's dresses are offset by the bright, cheerful yellows of their hats, creating a push and pull that animates the entire composition. There’s real energy in those strokes of ochre. It's all about the conversation, isn't it?