Tired, aka Portrait of the Artist's Daughter 1894

William Merritt Chase painted this portrait of his daughter using oil on canvas. Look at the thick, visible brushstrokes, which are especially apparent in the pink hues of the background, a color echoed in her flushed cheek. The way Chase applied the oil paint is quite telling; this wasn’t about blending to create a smooth surface. Instead, he revels in the materiality of the paint itself. You can see the texture, the direction of each stroke, and the way the colors mix and blend right there on the canvas. This technique links him to a broader movement of Impressionist painters who were interested in capturing a fleeting moment and the play of light. In this genre, labor becomes less about perfecting an illusion, and more about direct expression. You can feel the artist’s hand in the work, engaging directly with the material. So, next time you see a painting, don’t just look at the image. Consider the process, the materials, and the story they tell about the artist’s approach.