Lady in a Dark Hat, 1917

Anton Faistauer’s (1887–1930) Lady in a Dark Hat of 1917 is sculpted on the canvas from rich, gleaming dark colors. Following a trip to Venice in 1911, the artist was fascinated by the mysterious play of sharp light-and-dark contrasts of Venetian masters like Titian (1488/90–1576). This style of coloration would, for several years, become a characteristic of his painting. Unlike his models, though, his painting style was expeditious. The visible brushstrokes make the woman almost disappear in her blue coat and under her large hat. The partially visible, merely suggested make the portrait look softened in focus. Faistauer was lucky enough to be found unfit for military service and owed it to this circumstance that he was able to continue painting still lifes, e.g. Set Table, portraits, landscapes.

RR, 2021