Portrait of Elizabeth van Rysselberghe 1926

Theo van Rysselberghe made this portrait of Elizabeth van Rysselberghe in 1926, and it's oil on canvas. There's something so charming about this painting, especially in the way the brushstrokes build up, block by block, across the sitter's jacket. You can practically feel the texture of the canvas beneath. The paint isn't too thick, more like translucent layers that let light bounce around. It's as if the artist is showing us the work of seeing itself. Look closely at the way the artist renders Elizabeth's face. See how he builds it up with small strokes and dabs of pink, green and brown that somehow manage to suggest both solidity and depth, creating something subtle, alive, and complex. It reminds me of the early portraits of Alice Neel, with a similar interest in capturing a likeness while still exploring the potential of the medium. It’s a reminder that art doesn't always need to be about answers; sometimes, it's about opening up questions.