Three Women Under an Umbrella 1920

Editor: We’re looking at "Three Women Under an Umbrella" by Gerda Wegener, created around 1920. It seems to be rendered in watercolor. What strikes me is the bold use of color and line, even in what looks like a casual composition. What do you see in this piece, approaching it as a formalist? Curator: Immediately, my eye is drawn to the dynamic interplay of geometric shapes and sinuous curves. Note how the umbrella's rigid form contrasts with the soft, rounded faces, and the cascading lines of their dresses. It’s a structured asymmetry that compels visual interest. How does the color palette affect your reading? Editor: The pastel shades against the darker backgrounds almost make it feel both vintage and modern simultaneously, if that makes any sense. There's also this feeling of almost shallow space; the figures seem very close to the picture plane. Curator: Precisely. Wegener skillfully manipulates spatial depth. Consider the faces: they seem almost flattened, a deliberate choice perhaps to emphasize surface qualities over realistic depth. Note also the brushstrokes—quick, confident, and expressive—which highlight the inherent qualities of the watercolor medium itself. Do you notice any subtle textures or details that add to the visual complexity? Editor: Now that you mention it, the detail in the garment worn by the women second to the left provides great depth in an otherwise spatially shallow composition. The lines add texture, and contrast directly with the smoother garments of the others depicted. The dog also adds additional texture through its fur, though this adds a layer of unexpected realism that wasn't found as much in the depictions of the human faces. Curator: A fascinating observation. Wegener orchestrates a deliberate tension between abstraction and representation. It is this negotiation that is one of the more powerful characteristics. Editor: This perspective really highlights how much there is to see and analyze simply within the composition itself! Curator: Indeed, a formalist reading enables a deeper appreciation of the visual language at play. It showcases the artist’s hand and emphasizes the inherent qualities of the medium itself, offering invaluable insights.