Lady in Red c. 1918

Franz von Stuck, sometime in the early 20th Century, laid down this image of a woman in red. The way the paint is brushed on feels immediate, almost like it's trying to capture a fleeting moment. The colors are muted, earthy, but that red dress pops. Looking closer, you can see how the texture of the paint varies. In the sky, it's thin and washy, creating a sense of depth. On the dress, the brushstrokes are more deliberate, giving it a tactile quality. Notice the ruffled edge of the garment, with its pinkish hue against the red - so casually handled, yet so descriptive. It's these small touches that reveal the artist's hand, his process of building the image layer by layer. Von Stuck, with his symbolist leanings, was interested in ideas of beauty and the sensual, so this feels a bit like one of Klimt's portraits, or maybe even a nod to the old masters. The whole thing is about looking, seeing, and letting the image unfold in your mind, not just in your eyes.