The Love Letter 1902

This is "The Love Letter", painted by Eugene de Blaas in the late 19th or early 20th century, most likely with oils. What strikes me is its hyper-realism, the way light falls so convincingly on the fabric of the women’s dresses. It's almost photographic, but with a certain warmth. Look at the wall in the background – how the texture of the brick is rendered with such detail. You can almost feel the roughness of the surface. Then there's the contrast between the rough wall and the smoothness of the women's skin, and the delicate fabric of their clothes. There's a painterly quality to it, sure, but it's so controlled, so precise. The overall effect is soft and romantic. Look at the girl's expression, how gently she holds the letter, how soft the light is. It makes you wonder what the letter says! De Blaas reminds me a little of Bouguereau, in that he creates these idyllic, romantic scenes with an almost unbelievable level of technical skill. But, unlike Bouguereau, the painting seems to lack irony, even a sort of coldness; with de Blaas, we find only tenderness and sweetness.