The Old Model 1911 - 1913

Robert Henri made this oil painting, "The Old Model," without specifying the date but one can guess it involved a lot of looking. Henri's process here is about the immediacy of paint and the vitality of touch, but I reckon he was also thinking about how to respect another person. The way he handles the paint, it's thick in places, like around her face, but then he lets it dissolve into thin washes, especially in the background. Look closely, and you can almost feel the energy of his brushstrokes, capturing the essence of the model's presence. The red and yellow shawl, with its floral patterns, contrasts with the deep blues and blacks, adding a sense of warmth. He doesn't want to put too fine a point on her. It reminds me a bit of Velázquez, who never tells you exactly what to think. It’s all about suggestion and letting the viewer bring their own experience to the table. That's what makes art so exciting, right?