Josephine and Mercie 1908

Edmund Charles Tarbell painted Josephine and Mercie with oil on canvas at an unknown date. Tarbell’s brushstrokes here are so subtle, it's hard to believe this wasn't achieved through some kind of magical process. But it's all just paint, isn't it? Look at the girl writing her letter; the way the white dress falls into shadow, it's like he's dissolving solid form into light. He captures the mood of quiet domesticity with such skill. The color palette is muted but still rich; warm browns contrasting with cool blues. Notice how the light filters through the curtains and the window, creating a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere. It reminds me of those interiors by Vermeer, but with a modern sensibility. It feels like he's saying something about the fleeting nature of time.