Ladies in the Park 1903

Harrison Fisher gave us "Ladies in the Park," and it feels like he did it with a wink and a brush full of dreamy nostalgia. The color palette here is all soft peaches, whites, and those almost-gone-but-not-forgotten reds of autumn, which is just perfect for capturing a moment of leisure. Looking closely, you can almost feel the texture of the fabric – the way the paint bunches up on the skirt, thick and creamy, like the best kind of icing. Then there's the leaves scattered on the ground, each one a quick, gestural dab of color that somehow nails the fleeting nature of beauty. It's like Fisher knew that the magic is in the moment, in the process of painting itself. There's a lightness here, a playfulness that reminds me a little of Fragonard, but with a distinctly American sensibility, a sort of innocent flirtation. Ultimately, these "Ladies in the Park" leave so much open to our imaginations.