Blonde and Brunette 

Edward Henry Potthast made this painting, “Blonde and Brunette,” with oil on canvas. The way the artist has applied the paint, with short, visible strokes, it’s clear that he’s less interested in a smooth, photographic realism, than in capturing a sense of light and movement. You can almost feel the ocean breeze! Potthast was part of a broader movement called American Impressionism, which embraced these techniques. It’s not just about how things look, but how they feel. Impressionism, as a style, also has a lot to do with the rise of industrial capitalism. The availability of mass-produced paints in tubes meant that artists could easily work outdoors, responding to the changing conditions of the world around them. Leisure time, like that being enjoyed by these beach-goers, was also becoming more common. Painting thus becomes less about religious or historical subjects, and more about the everyday experiences of modern life. It is a democratization of content, made possible by shifts in labor and leisure. So what seems like a simple scene is actually full of social meaning.