Misia at the Piano (also known as Portrait of Misia Natanson) 1902

Pierre Bonnard captured Misia at the Piano with oil on canvas, and what grabs me is how he's not trying to nail down a perfect likeness, but rather, chasing something more fleeting. It's like he's painting a memory, not a photograph. Look closely, and you'll see how the texture is built up with these little dabs and strokes of paint. It's all surface, alive with this tactile energy. The color palette is soft, almost muted, but it's those unexpected pinks and blues that give it a certain vibrancy. The way he renders the dress, it's not just fabric, but this shimmering field of light and color, and Misia's gaze is gentle and inward-looking. Bonnard reminds me a little of Vuillard; they're both so good at capturing these quiet, intimate moments. It’s a reminder that art isn't about answers, but about how we see and feel our way through the world.