Reading Woman 1912

Kmetty János made this painting of a woman reading, probably in oil, and although it is not known when exactly, the muted greens and browns, and the angular brushstrokes, suggest it was a while ago. I can imagine Kmetty János standing in front of the canvas, brush in hand, trying to capture a moment of quiet contemplation. Look at the way he's built up the forms with these short, deliberate strokes, like he's chiseling away at the surface to reveal the figure beneath. The texture of the paint feels almost sculptural, especially in the folds of the woman’s clothes and the pages of the book. The light seems to emanate from within the painting itself, casting long shadows that suggest a story beyond what we can see. She looks cozy! It’s like he’s inviting us to step into this intimate space and share in her solitude. These painters, they’re always showing us new ways of seeing and feeling, and reminding us that there’s always more to discover if we just take the time to look.