Frances Foley 1927

Edwin Dickinson made 'Frances Foley' with oil, and what a process! He's laid down these facet-like shapes, one next to the other. Like he's building up the figure from chunks of color. There’s something about the cool palette that makes me think of faded memories. It's like he’s remembering her, and the details are kind of obscured. The paint isn’t super thick, but it has a visible texture, especially in the way he renders the folds of her dress. It’s all these sharp, geometric planes creating the softness of fabric. I keep coming back to the way he painted the face, so still and serene. The soft modeling suggests this sort of inner life. Dickinson’s approach reminds me a bit of Fairfield Porter. He has the same quiet observation of domestic life, but with a touch more... melancholy, perhaps? Anyway, it's a beautiful piece. A wonderful exploration of form and feeling.