The Swing 1913

William James Glackens made this painting, called The Swing, with oil on canvas. The brushstrokes here are like quick, happy stabs, and the colors are a dance of light and shadow. It's like Glackens wasn't just painting a scene, but capturing a feeling, a memory of a sunny day. Look at the way he layers the paint, thick in some spots, thin in others, so you can almost feel the breeze and smell the grass. And the colors, they're not exactly realistic, but they're true to the way the light plays on everything. Take that little girl on the swing – the way the light catches her dress, it’s a perfect little burst of joy. Glackens reminds me of Bonnard in the way he sees the world, with a sense of intimate, everyday beauty.