Madame Theo van Rysselberghe 1907

Theo van Rysselberghe made this portrait of Madame Theo van Rysselberghe with oil on canvas. The way the artist builds the form with small dabs of color is something to behold, like a mosaic made of paint. Looking closely, the surface has a fantastic texture. The brushstrokes are visible and the dots of colour sit on the canvas, they almost vibrate. Note how the blue dots on her blouse are echoed in the background, creating a visual harmony. Check out the way the orange and yellow mix with the blue in the background – it's like a field of wildflowers viewed up close. This kind of painting makes me think of someone like Signac, who was really into colour theory. But Rysselberghe brings his own sensibility to it. The painting feels warm and intimate, and it suggests that art is really just an ongoing, visual conversation.