Anna May Wong c. 1927

Alice Pike Barney made this portrait of Anna May Wong with pastels, smudging and blending to create a delicate and soft image. The artist's hand moved across the surface, layering colors to capture the likeness of Wong; imagine Barney stepping back, squinting, then adding another stroke of pink to the lips, a touch of blue to the background, coaxing the image into being. I feel like she really took the time to observe Wong, considering her beauty and the cultural significance she held. It’s like Barney wanted to immortalize her, not just as a movie star, but as a person with depth and grace. The smudgy pastel gives the artwork an ethereal quality, and the way the colors blend together feels harmonious and balanced. It reminds me of the portraits of Berthe Morisot in the way it captures a sense of intimacy and admiration. Artists are always in conversation, responding to and building on the work of those who came before. In art, every stroke, every choice is a reflection of the artist's inner world, an attempt to make sense of the world around them.