At the Garden Door 1901

John William Godward created "At the Garden Door" without specifying a date. The colors are lush, burnt oranges, browns, and yellows, all working together to create a scene bathed in warm light. I wonder what it was like for Godward to paint this? To be so immersed in the act of creating such beauty and serenity. The textures, the way the light catches on the folds of her dress – you can almost feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. Look at the way she is holding her neck, that gesture suggests both comfort and pensiveness. You know, artists are always building on what came before, borrowing and riffing off each other. "At the Garden Door" made me think of other painters who are so good at color, like Pierre Bonnard. Painting, it’s this continuous conversation across time. There’s no right or wrong answer, just different ways of seeing and feeling.