Lady with a Bowl of Violets 1910

Lilla Cabot Perry made this painting of a woman with a bowl of violets in oil on canvas. I can imagine Perry working on this piece, maybe in natural light, trying to get that lacy collar just right, those violets, too. I wonder if she considered, as she worked, that the act of painting this woman was a conversation. It’s more than just depiction. Look at the way Perry captures the soft light on her face. It gives her a serene, almost ethereal quality. The brushwork is delicate, almost impressionistic, right? It’s like she’s trying to capture a fleeting moment. It makes me think about other portrait painters, how they all interpret their subjects, and it’s always personal. The violets, the frilly dress; the subtle brushstrokes, a question mark, which makes the painting linger in the mind. All artists are in an ongoing conversation. Perry's is an exchange of ideas across time, inspiring creativity through embodied expression, embracing ambiguity, and welcoming multiple interpretations.