The White Gown 1923

Frederick Carl Frieseke painted "The White Gown," using oil on canvas, and a muted, soft palette. The beauty of the work emerges from its delicate facture. Notice the visible brushstrokes, which create a palpable sense of texture. These were not applied to create a photographic likeness; instead, the material of the paint seems to create the very atmosphere that surrounds the sitter. The white gown itself is made up of many hues, and is an exploration of reflected light, rather than a flat expanse of color. Frieseke painted in an impressionist style, which meant working quickly, en plein air, and engaging with fleeting moments. This approach to painting captures a moment in time, rather than an eternal truth. It also reflects a shift toward valuing the individual experience and perception of the artist, and also to the labor involved in the making. Thinking about the materiality and the methods of production, helps us to fully appreciate the artwork, and to consider the place of the artwork in the history of painting.