The Garden Seat 1911

Robert Lewis Reid painted "The Garden Seat" with what looks like oil paint, though you might not know that from a quick glance. It’s funny how the way he’s layered the paint makes it seem almost like a watercolor, light and airy. Look at the woman’s dress, how the strokes blend, soft and dreamy, like a memory. The garden feels alive, each brushstroke a breath of color. The whole piece has this translucent quality, a sense of light filtering through leaves. It reminds me of the way Pierre Bonnard used color to create a mood, evoking a feeling rather than just depicting a scene. It makes you think about how painting isn't just about what you see, but about how you feel.