Daphne at Paravola 1934

Felice Casorati made this painting, Daphne at Paravola, with oil on canvas. He lays down these chalky colors in such a way that the whole thing has this beautiful, muted quality, like it's remembering something. I really get into the way the light falls across her face and dress. It’s so precise, almost architectural. There's a real sense of stillness here, but the outside world is visible over her shoulder. I love the way her hands are clasped in her lap, that simple gesture. It’s like she’s holding onto something precious. There’s something about the way Casorati has painted this figure that makes me think of those early Renaissance portraits, like Piero della Francesca. Casorati, like those painters, invites us to ponder the layers of emotion and experience that reside just beneath the surface. It’s a way of seeing that’s both intimate and profound, inviting us to slow down and really look.