A Delightful Evening c. 1906

Alice Pike Barney made this portrait, A Delightful Evening, with pastel. You can see how the marks build up to create the image, a bit like life drawing – only here, the artist has added these lovely colors to create a beautiful, soft and hazy portrait. The material itself is interesting. Look at the way Barney has layered the pastel – it’s powdery and light, creating a sense of depth and luminosity. The color palette is muted, but there are these hints of pink, yellow, and blue that give the image a sense of warmth and vibrancy. Her marks are so visible and open, I wonder if Barney was influenced by Impressionism. There's something really charming and intimate about the work, like you're catching a glimpse of a private moment. It's not just a portrait, it’s an invitation.