Der Kutscher c. 1905

Giovanni Boldini made 'Der Kutscher' with oil paint, but it's like he was trying to capture a fleeting moment rather than just paint a picture. Look at how he uses these really loose, gestural strokes. It's all about capturing the energy and movement, which is so exciting. There is a real sense of process to the work, you can see how the artist has built up the image through many layers of paint. The texture is rough and immediate. In the bottom left corner, there are some thin, transparent washes, which contrast with the more opaque marks describing the wheel to the left of the carriage. This really brings it to life. Boldini's work makes me think of someone like Manet, who wasn’t afraid to leave things unresolved. Art doesn't always have to spell everything out; sometimes it's more interesting when it leaves room for our imaginations to wander.