Martha and Mary (first thought)
circa 1896
Maurice Denis, a leader of the French Nabis group, gives us a sneak peek into his creative process with this preliminary sketch for 'Martha and Mary.' You can see his famous theory in action—that art is essentially a flat surface covered with colors—especially in the bold, sweeping strokes of the light blue dress dominating the foreground. The scene depicts the biblical sisters: the dark-clad figure standing busy at work contrasts with the seated figure in pale blue, who seems lost in contemplation. It’s a beautiful example of Symbolism, where the mood and color matter far more than realistic details.
- Technique
- Oil paint
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