Afternoon (Yellow Room)

Vibrant lemon-yellow walls, with blue rugs and curtains.

In a room filled with pleasant sunlight, a woman in a floral kimono sits quietly.

This is the living room of the artist Frieseke's home in Giverny, France, and the model is his beloved wife, Sadie. At first glance, it appears to be a beautiful and peaceful everyday scene, depicting his wife's tranquil moment of rest.

However, recent infrared investigations have revealed 'a secret' hidden beneath this painting.

In fact, an 'open book' was originally depicted on his wife's lap.
Why did the artist deliberately paint over the book and even redraw the position of her hands (pentimento) in a painting that was nearing completion?

It was to erase the 'narrative' from the painting.

When a woman is depicted reading a book, viewers inevitably ponder, 'What book is she reading?' or 'What kind of intellectual activity is she engaged in?'

However, what Frieseke truly wanted to convey with this painting was not such logic or narrative.
It was simply the 'sparkle of light' and the 'beauty of the opulent decoration' itself.

Meaning and narrative are no longer needed. He simply wanted viewers to experience the dazzling shower of light filling this space.

This golden room, completed with the deliberate choice to 'remove the book,' is the ultimate sanctuary of light that he created, pursuing only the joy of pure sensation over intellect.