Portrait of Elizabeth van Rysselberghe, Seated with Her Hands on the Table 1915

Theo van Rysselberghe painted this portrait of Elizabeth van Rysselberghe, using oil on canvas, in 1915. I love the muted tones. It makes me think of the artist gently coaxing the image out of the canvas. You can almost see him, eyes narrowed, stepping back and forth, layering those brushstrokes. I wonder what Elizabeth was thinking about as she sat for this portrait? Was she bored, or did she enjoy the quiet contemplation of the moment? Check out the way the paint is applied, thin in some areas, thicker in others, creating a subtle texture that catches the light. See the tiny strokes in her face. It’s these small gestures that give the painting its life. Rysselberghe's work makes me think of other portraitists like Alice Neel, who capture not just a likeness but a whole mood. It reminds us that artists are always in conversation, borrowing and building upon each other's ideas. Painting is this ongoing dance of influence and innovation.