A Venetian Balcony 1913

William Merritt Chase painted "A Venetian Balcony" without noting the date, using a layered, intuitive approach. The color palette is subdued, almost like a faded memory, which is something I really respond to. I’m drawn to how Chase captures light and shadow. Look at the floor; you can almost feel the sunlight reflecting up into the room. It’s as if the brushstrokes are dancing, not trying to capture reality, but giving us the impression of it. The darkness of the cabinet on the right contrasts with the light-filled balcony, creating a sense of depth. There's a particular mark, a swirl of brown, on the cabinet that reminds me of a question mark – like Chase is inviting us to wonder what secrets are hidden in the dark. His approach reminds me a little of Whistler's interest in mood and atmosphere, that sense of capturing a fleeting moment, more than a literal scene. Art, for me, is always about this kind of conversation across time.