Le Pouldu Landscape 1901

Frederick Carl Frieseke made this beach scene, Le Pouldu Landscape, with oil on canvas, but I don’t know exactly when. You can see how the strokes of the brush create depth. It’s not just about rendering something realistically, it's about the act of painting, the process of applying color to a surface. Look at how he uses light and shadow to give form to the figures and the landscape. The paint isn’t too thick, but you can still see the marks he’s made. Notice the way he builds up the layers of color in the foreground, how the shades of green and brown blend to create a sense of depth. You get the feeling that he’s trying to capture a fleeting moment. The way the light changes, the movement of the crowd on the beach – it all feels so immediate and present. Frieseke spent a lot of time with Monet, so I wonder if he wasn’t thinking about his work while making this. Anyway, art's just one big conversation, you know?