Il professore cavalieri di Luca 1905

Peter Hansen created this watercolour painting of Il professore cavalieri di Luca, sometime around 1902. There’s something really intimate about watercolours; the way the pigment stains the paper is so visible and immediate. It feels like you're right there with the artist. Hansen's use of thin washes creates depth through layering. Look at the darks around the violinist's jacket and trousers. There's a real attention to light and shadow, but the paint handling is quite loose; it's like he’s trying to capture a fleeting moment. I love the way he renders the face, with soft, blended tones, but the hands holding the violin feel more defined, more active. This reminds me a little of Whistler's portraits, particularly in the muted palette and the focus on capturing a mood rather than just a likeness. It’s like Hansen is saying, "Here’s a person, a moment, a feeling...what do you make of it?"