Lady Trying on a Hat (The Black Hat) 1904

Frank Benson made "Lady Trying on a Hat" with oil on canvas, but when? We don't know. Benson’s brushstrokes are so soft, they almost melt. It’s like he’s trying to catch a feeling more than a specific image. I’m really drawn to the way he handles the light, especially on the woman's dress and arms. It's so delicate, and you can almost feel the texture of the fabric, or the sensation of putting your arms up like that. And that big black hat! It throws such a shadow; you almost can’t see her face. It reminds me a little of some of Degas’ portraits, where he's more interested in capturing a mood than a perfect likeness. It's more like an impression, a moment caught in time, than a fixed idea. I think this piece shows how art can embrace the unsaid, the felt, rather than trying to nail everything down.