Julius Paulsen 1907

This painting of Julius Paulsen was made with oil on canvas by Peder Krøyer in 1907, and I love how Krøyer seems to be feeling out the form of the sitter, as much as actually describing it. The surface is a delicious array of buttery strokes, and earthy colors that give the work a great sense of warmth. Look at the light around the brim of the hat, how the brushstrokes are layered and built up to give it shape and volume. These textures feel soft and malleable. This is very different to the dark, decisive marks that define the mustache. To me, this reveals how Krøyer embraced painting as a process of discovery. You might find the work of Manet interesting, as he also adopted this playful approach.