Image via nytimes.com © John Currin
We're charmed by this New York Times Magazine essay by Rivka Galchen about the French artist Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun, an 18th century society portraitist. While Le Brun's work was revered by some and reviled by others, we are fascinated by the writer's note that "Children in her paintings appear at ease, about to move; their postures look awkward, and accurate. . . . It’s as though the work confesses frankly that to catch honest sight of a child requires an imaginary angle of reflection." Accompanying the essay is an excellent slideshow depicting the work of contemporary artists who have captured their children through their craft (like this lovely and ethereal portraitof artist John Currin's daughter) - see the selections here.