Demure 2017

Terri Kelly Moyers made this painting, Demure, in the 20th century, likely with oil on canvas, given the smooth, almost photographic realism she's achieved. I can imagine the artist carefully building up layers of thin glazes, especially in the dress and the shadows, to give them this rich, dark complexity. She probably spent hours on the details of the fan and the lace shawl, capturing the subtle play of light and shadow. Maybe she was thinking about how the old masters worked, how they used light to create drama and mood. The way she paints the woman's gaze, just peeking over the fan, is really striking, suggesting an almost photographic image of Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, but set in Spain! It's like she's inviting us into a little secret, a moment of intimacy. It reminds me how all artists are in conversation with each other, borrowing and riffing on ideas across time. Painting really is a conversation.