Louis Ritman enrolled in the École des Beaux Arts in the summer of 1909. Around 1911, he moved to Giverny, where he spent almost two decades. At this time, Ritman came under the influence of the American Impressionists Richard Miller and Frederick Frieseke. He was particularly inspired by their paintings of women in domestic interiors and garden settings. Their approach differed from the previous artists who resided in Giverny because they focused on figure painting over landscapes. A popular subject included women relaxing in their boudoirs or in sunlit gardens. By the summer of 1913, Ritman was producing images of nude and partially draped figures.

In Sunlit Window, the floral prints of the wallpaper, curtains, and model’s blouse co-exist with the potted plant leaves and the emphatic stripes of the venetian blinds and table legs. The orderly patterns contrast abruptly with the buzzing confusion of nature seen through the open window. The striking difference between the style of Early Morning Sunshine (IMA) and Sunlit Window is due to Ritman’s contact with the artist Frederick Frieseke, leader of the Giverny Group, who achieved fame with his use of strong, colorful decorative patterns.

Love, Richard H. Louis Ritman: From Chicago to Giverny. Chicago: Haase Mumm Publishing Company.