Carriage Ride 1904

Harrison Fisher sketched 'Carriage Ride' with ink and watercolour, a light and quick process that lets the artist capture the moment. The muted palette gives it a slightly melancholic air, which is interesting since the subject matter is a day out. It’s as if the artist is commenting on the performance of wealth, rather than the joy of it. I love the way he renders the frills of the dresses with a few strokes and dabs; it’s all implied, not labored over. Look closely at the wheel, Fisher has used radial lines, almost like sunbeams. This creates a dynamic contrast with the still figures. There is something of the society sketches of Manet about this piece, although Fisher’s line is more illustrative and less gestural. Both artists, though, see the possibilities in leaving the image open, letting the viewer's imagination fill in the blanks.