The LIttle Red Bowl 1912

William Merritt Chase made 'The Little Red Bowl,' an oil painting, at an undetermined date. The composition is straightforward, a table-top still life against a dark background, but the painting feels spontaneous, immediate. You can sense Chase figuring things out as he goes. Look at the impasto, those thick, juicy strokes of paint, especially on the bowl itself! The reds aren’t flat; they shimmer with subtle variations, picking up the light. It's like Chase is sculpting with color. Then there's the metallic sheen on the rim, a cool contrast to the warmth of the bowl. That specific red, how it plays with light, the texture – it all combines into an experience that's both visual and tactile. Chase's work often draws comparisons to the Old Masters, particularly in his use of light and shadow. But there’s also something modern about his loose brushwork, suggesting art is always an open dialogue, not a closed statement.