La Cruche caffée 1925

"La Cruche caffée" by George Barbier, a work created some time in the late 19th or early 20th century, invites us into a world of delicate lines and muted tones. Barbier's artmaking feels process-oriented, the image built up through a series of graphic marks rather than a blending of colours. There's a graphic quality to this piece. Look at how the trees are defined, like cut-outs against the sky. The palette consists of pastels and muted colours like lavender, tan and pale yellow. It's all very easy on the eye. It creates a dreamy atmosphere. Consider the woman's dress, a symphony of lilac stripes and soft pink. How it contrasts with the man's more vibrant jacket, a statement of intent. Barbier’s work reminds me of other artists who captured fleeting moments with elegance, like Manet, or Degas, who embraced art as an ongoing conversation, each brushstroke answering or questioning those that came before.