Girl on a red carpet 1912

Felice Casorati painted “Girl on a red carpet”, sometime in the early 20th century, using oil paint. You know, the way Casorati handles paint is so intriguing; there’s a stillness and clarity to his forms that feels almost like he's carving space, rather than just filling it. Look at the carpet, that field of red. It's like a stage set, isn't it? The textures are so flat, yet layered with detail, like a dream trying to hold onto its form. And then there's the girl, her dark dress almost blending into the shadows, with her pale face emerging into the light, it's the kind of contrast that pulls you in, asking you to question what’s real and what’s imagined. The doll, the kitten, the books scattered, all are actors in this drama of girlhood. It's like a tableau vivant, frozen in a moment of contemplation. This image almost reminds me of Balthus, who was playing with similar themes of adolescence and alienation, but with a cooler, more detached gaze. With Casorati, you feel there’s a warmth, a kind of tenderness, despite the underlying sense of unease.