Das Bild Eine Mädchen Brigette Bergman 1920

Gerda Wegener made this portrait of Brigette Bergman with watercolors, layering subtle washes to create a luminous effect. I imagine Wegener, brush in hand, carefully building up these delicate tones. It's like she's breathing life into the paper, stroke by stroke. I love how the fluid nature of watercolor lends itself to capturing the softness of the sitter's dress and the dreamy quality of the background. Those flowing lines and translucent colors create a sense of airiness, like we're catching a fleeting moment in time. You can see how the paint mixes and mingles on the surface, creating unexpected textures and gradients. It’s almost as if the painting is alive. Wegener, like many artists, was in conversation with the work of other artists, and she was surely inspired by the Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, but she brought her own unique vision to the medium. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing dialogue across generations. We are so lucky to be able to enjoy it.