Lady in black evening dress with green scarf 1908

Lesser Ury painted this picture of a lady in a black dress with a green scarf in 1908, with what looks like expressive brushstrokes of oil on canvas. You can almost see him in the studio, layering the paint, wiping it away, and then adding some more, building up the image through trial and error. I imagine Ury wanting to capture a sense of fleeting beauty or the electric atmosphere of a social gathering. The paint is applied loosely, creating a shimmering effect on the surface. The green scarf stands out, a bold stroke that adds a touch of elegance, like a deliberate flourish in the composition. Painters are always in conversation with one another across time. This piece reminds me of other impressionist painters who captured the fleeting moments of modern life. It’s like Ury is saying that painting doesn’t have to be about perfection but more about capturing a feeling, an atmosphere, an embodied experience.