Mädchen mit langen Haaren 1936

Walther Gamerith painted "Girl with Long Hair," probably in the 1930s or 40s, using oil on canvas. Look at the layers of pale blues, reds, and greens. It's easy to imagine Gamerith building up the image, stroke by stroke, feeling his way through the form. You can see the ghost of Modigliani in there, can't you? I wonder what Gamerith was thinking, what he wanted us to feel. The girl’s gaze is downcast, lost in thought, and the muted colors add to the overall solemn mood. But then there is this strand of bright red hair. It shines out from the canvas. It looks so soft, doesn't it? I want to reach out and touch it. This simple, intimate gesture of a girl playing with her hair speaks of a quiet moment of reflection, doesn’t it? It also speaks of a moment captured and immortalized. Isn't painting amazing? It’s like a conversation across time.