Yachting Girl, from the series "Hamilton King Girls" (T7, Type 6), issued by Turkish Trophies Cigarettes 1913

Hamilton King's "Yachting Girl" was made as a cigarette card, issued by Turkish Trophies. Look at the sketchy, soft marks that make up this image. It's not trying to be a photograph, right? It's all about suggestion. I bet Hamilton King was in love with how line can describe a form, a feeling. Think about him, drawing this woman over and over, trying to get that balance of elegance and casualness. See how the red scarf pops against the pale dress? Maybe he started with that splash of color and built the rest of the image around it. I love the way the boat is just hinted at with a few strokes, and how her blue stockings add a touch of modernity. It's like he's inviting us into a fleeting moment, a dream of leisure and beauty. Painters, we're all just riffing off each other, trying to capture something elusive on a surface. King reminds us that sometimes, the simplest gestures can say the most.