By the Fireside 1910

Rose O’Neill made this painting, By the Fireside, most likely in the early twentieth century with oil on canvas. Look at how she’s layered the paint, building it up, especially around the fire. You can almost feel the warmth radiating from the canvas. I’m really drawn to how the oranges and reds clash with the cool blues of the cloth draped around the figure. There’s a tension there that makes the painting so alive. Notice how the light from the fire dances on her skin, giving her body a soft, almost luminous quality. I see a kind of freedom in the way O’Neill handles the paint, a willingness to let the brushstrokes be visible. Take for instance the bold strokes around the figure’s shoulder, a kind of raw energy, and a looseness that feels really modern. I think of Mary Cassatt’s paintings of women, but with a slightly edgier vibe. It feels like O’Neill is pushing the boundaries of what’s considered acceptable, both in subject matter and in technique. It makes you think about how art can be a space for exploring different ways of seeing and feeling, without needing to settle on one fixed meaning.