East and West 1904

George Henry made ‘East and West’ with oil paint on canvas, and it’s a vibe, right? I see these soft brushstrokes of white, green, and beige blending together, and I imagine George layering them one over the other to build the form. The woman in the painting seems to emerge from the muted background, and she holds a fan in her hands. Is she waiting, dreaming, or just posing? I want to know what she's thinking. And what about the title, ‘East and West?’ Perhaps George was thinking about the fusion of cultures and styles, something reflected in the composition. I think of other painters like Sargent, for instance, who also captured the elegance of their sitters, even as I feel George is doing his own thing. It’s all one big conversation, where artists respond to each other across time and place, each adding their own voice to the mix.