Endymion 1910

Alice Pike Barney painted this sensitive portrait, Endymion, with oils, though we don't know exactly when. There's a softness to it, like the paint was applied with a gentle touch, building up delicate layers of colour. Look at the way she's captured the light on his face, the subtle gradations of tone that give him such depth and presence. I am really drawn to the modelling of the face and torso. See how the light describes the figure in a very simple, economic way? The way that warm light sits on the shoulder, in contrast to the dark background, this is just so beautiful. Barney was clearly interested in the play of light and shadow, and in capturing the fleeting beauty of the human form, as a process. This exploration of form and light makes me think of John Singer Sargent, who was also interested in portraiture and the way light could be used to create a sense of drama. Both artists remind us that art is not just about representation, it’s about transformation and ambiguity.