Mary with a red hat 1902

Franz von Stuck painted "Mary with a Red Hat," a small oil on wood. The green background is brushed on thinly with dark strokes that suggest a kind of dark forest, or maybe just the speedy gestures of putting paint to surface. And then comes the girl, Mary. The face is so tender, very different from the hat, which is like a huge explosion of thick, almost violent, brushstrokes. The hat is a swirling, vibrant presence. I love how it's almost like two paintings in one, this duality between the calm face and this wild, red crown. The contrast really makes you think about the different ways we can see and be seen, and how much a simple accessory can change everything. It reminds me a little of Paula Modersohn-Becker, with that same interest in capturing a very particular kind of female subjectivity. Anyway, what do I know? That's just my take.