Patience 1915

Robert Henri painted this portrait, likely in the early 20th century, with what looks like oil on canvas. The way he's built up the face with these quick, confident strokes – it's like he's not just painting a face, but the very act of seeing. Look at the texture around her eyes, those little dabs of ochre and pink. You can almost feel the brush moving, deciding where the light falls. It’s this beautiful dance between precision and letting go that makes Henri's work so alive. The physicality of the paint, thick in places, thin in others, is all part of the story. The dark backdrop is a great foil for her radiant face. It makes me think of John Singer Sargent, but with a bit more grit, a bit more heart. Henri wasn't afraid to let the process show, to let the painting breathe. It’s this honesty that invites us in, making us feel like we’re part of an ongoing conversation about what it means to see, to paint, and to be seen.