William Dean Howells 1912

Lilla Cabot Perry painted William Dean Howells, probably with oils, sometime around 1912. Look at the way she models Howells’ face with these soft, almost blurry strokes! The skin isn't just a flat plane; it's a landscape of subtle color shifts. You can see the influence of Impressionism here, but with a real focus on capturing character. It’s not just about light; it’s about personality. The brushwork around his suit is broader and more gestural, kind of suggesting the fabric rather than depicting every thread. And check out the hand holding the eyeglasses! The way the light catches the ring on his finger… it’s a small detail, but it says so much. This painting reminds me of the work of someone like John Singer Sargent, in that both artists share a knack for capturing the essence of their subjects with an incredible economy of means. Art's an ongoing conversation, right? Perry's painting really embraces that ambiguity, it's less about fixed answers and more about opening up possibilities.