LA CAVALIERI 1885 - 1942

This is Leonetto Cappiello’s “LA CAVALIERI” made with what looks like graphite and watercolor, and it's all about the suggestive power of a few well-placed marks. The way Cappiello uses color feels so light, just hinting at form and texture. Look at the dress, how the lines suggest volume and movement, but also let the paper breathe. It’s almost like he’s saying, "I trust you to fill in the blanks." And the hat, that big yellow shape with those little roses, it's such a bold move! The contrast with the rest of the muted palette makes it pop and gives the whole image a sense of playfulness. It reminds me a little of Toulouse-Lautrec, that sense of capturing a moment, an essence, without getting bogged down in details. It's about suggestion, not description, and that's what makes it so compelling.