Hide and Seek by William Merritt Chase

The exploration of domestic interior spaces constitutes a fascinating aspect of the work of Chase William Merritt, illustrated here by the mysterious composition titled “Hide and Seek”. Painted in an intimate atmosphere inspired by Velázquez, this interior scene bears witness to the artist’s talent for capturing suspended moments of childhood. The work invites the viewer to enter a secret and silent world, where children’s play seems to animate the shadows of the family home.

In a large dark room with a highly polished, very shiny waxed wooden parquet floor, two young girls are playing. In the foreground on the left, we only see the head and upper body of a little girl with long blonde hair, cropped by the frame. Further away, another little girl in a white dress and dark stockings walks toward a bright opening concealed by a large flowered black curtain on the right. Against the very dark brown back wall, an empty chair upholstered in turquoise fabric adds a touch of cool color to this mysterious composition, dramatically lit by the sliver of light.

Merritt shows his superb mastery of oil painting by working on the complex reflections of the floor and the contrasts of chiaroscuro. His fluid technique allows him to suggest forms with an economy of means and a great power of evocation.