The Open Window 1917

Frank W. Benson seems to have painted this scene indoors with oil paints, sometime, well, we don't really know when! I can see a lot of careful brushwork here, layers upon layers building up a kind of hazy atmosphere. The color palette is quiet, almost tonal, with a lot of muted browns and creams, that create a light filled space through subtle variation. Look closely, and you’ll notice how the light seems to filter through the open window, creating a soft glow on the woman's dress. The artist really captured a sense of light and air with these short strokes of paint. The woman herself seems lost in thought, quietly drinking tea or coffee. I find the circular mirror on the wall to be a striking motif, reminding me of the passage of time and of art as an ongoing conversation with the past. This painting reminds me a bit of Whistler, another artist who was interested in capturing fleeting moments of beauty and atmosphere. Like Benson, Whistler saw art as a way of exploring the world and as a space for personal reflection. Both artists invite us to slow down and appreciate the simple pleasures of life.