La Montera. Segovia Girl in Fiesta Costume 1912

Robert Henri made "La Montera. Segovia Girl in Fiesta Costume" with oil on canvas. The painting is built up with loose, gestural brushstrokes, a flurry of strokes that capture the girl's likeness. I imagine Henri standing there, stepping back, squinting, and then stepping forward to deposit more paint. The painting feels very alive, like it's still in the process of becoming. I'm drawn to the way Henri captures the textures and patterns of her outfit, the colorful beads, and the intricate details of her headdress. Henri may have been thinking about the fleeting nature of beauty, and the challenge of capturing a likeness on canvas. The quick strokes seem very modern, like Manet or Sargent, but Henri also has a quality all his own. I love how painters are always having this silent conversation with each other, across time, inspiring each other. Painting, for me, is a form of embodied expression. The best artworks embrace ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations.