An Italian Garden 1909

William Merritt Chase gave us this Italian Garden with paint, sometime between 1849 and 1916. I am really drawn to the colors and the loose way they are handled; it's like a party of greens, pinks, blues, and creams all mixing together. I love how the paint feels both thick and airy, as if Chase was trying to capture the light filtering through the leaves. The way he’s built up the layers, especially in the flowers near the pathway, makes you wanna reach out and touch ‘em. Look closely at the path, it seems to glow. There’s a kind of hazy, dreamlike vibe that comes through. Thinking about other painters, I am reminded of John Singer Sargent in the way Chase uses confident brushstrokes, but with a softer touch, creating a space that is both real and a little bit magical. It's all about feeling, not just seeing.