Madame Melba 1902

Rupert Bunny painted Madame Melba in oil paint, but when, I’m not sure. The wispy brushstrokes feel so fresh! The off-white dress is a dream, with these delicate layers, like a mirage of ruffles, capturing the material quality and the light as it hits it. It's soft, but not saccharine. Look at the dress where it pools at the bottom. It's not just a solid shape; it's a mass of individual strokes that come together to create this shimmering effect, which keeps our eye moving. Even the background is activated with loose gestural brushwork. I'm reminded of Manet, in the way the figure asserts herself against the landscape, but rendered with a touch that is all Bunny’s own. The conversation between artists never really ends, does it? It just keeps evolving with new voices and perspectives.