On the terrace 

Giovanni Boldini, likely working in Paris, painted "On the Terrace" using oil on canvas, a traditional medium. Boldini's quick, broken brushstrokes mimic the fleeting, fashionable world he depicted. Notice how the vibrant colours and fluid lines capture the textures of the women's dresses, the lush foliage, and the warm brick of the terrace. These weren't the flat, laboured surfaces of academic painting. Boldini, instead, evokes the dynamic energy of modern life. The painting hints at a shift in social values, where leisure and display became increasingly important. The clothes and setting suggest a privileged lifestyle, made possible by the economic structures of the time. The light, airy brushwork reflects the changing landscape of art production, which moved away from the meticulous realism toward capturing the immediacy of experience. By focusing on these material qualities and the social context in which Boldini worked, we can understand the painting not just as a pretty scene but as a cultural object deeply connected to its time.