Portret van een meisje 1885 - 1922

Willem Witsen painted this portrait of a girl, we don't know when, with oil on canvas. Look at the surface. It’s smooth, and a little bit shiny, right? The thin layers of paint create a sense of intimacy. I wonder about that red ribbon. It feels so alive, it almost pops off the canvas! I can imagine the artist applying layer upon layer of translucent oil paint, gently blending the hues to capture the soft glow of her skin. I love the way Witsen uses color to evoke feeling. Do you see how the dark background makes the girl's face seem even brighter and more luminous? Her eyes hold a hint of mystery. I wonder what she's thinking about? Painting for me is like entering into a conversation with the artist. It's a kind of exchange across time.