Margarethe von Stumm c. 1902

Franz von Lenbach painted this portrait of Margarethe von Stumm with oil on canvas, and it’s all about that process. Look at the confident strokes, the way he's built up her form with these layers of browns, creams, and tans. It feels like he’s not trying to hide his working, but rather reveling in it. The surface is alive with energy. See that dark, almost muddy oval that frames her face? It’s not just a backdrop; it's a bold assertion of paint, a physical presence. Then, notice how the light catches the delicate curve of her cheek. Lenbach uses the softest touch to define her profile, a stark contrast to the more aggressive marks around it. It reminds me of Whistler’s portraits, that same sensitivity to tone and mood, but with a kind of raw, unvarnished honesty. In art, it’s not about getting it ‘right,’ it’s about the journey, the conversation between the artist, the subject, and the paint.