A Chinesa 1922

Anita Malfatti made "A Chinesa" with oils on canvas, and I like to imagine the scene as she painted it, the model posed in that dark blue robe against that pulsing red background. There's something about the physicality of oil paint that is so alive. Look at the way the brushstrokes almost vibrate with energy, especially in the lantern and the model's elaborate clothing. You can sense her process, adding layer upon layer, building up the colors and textures. The paint isn't just lying flat; it's got a real presence. I wonder if Malfatti knew Matisse's work when she made this, those bold uses of colour and pattern. Like all artists, she was probably in an ongoing dialogue with other painters. I like how Malfatti invites us into a space of ambiguity, where the painting is always in process and open to new interpretations.