Moonlight 1901

Frank W. Benson made this painting of a Moonlight scene with oil on canvas, and it’s really all about how he lays down the paint to conjure up a feeling. Look at the way he's scrubbed the paint in places, especially in the waves – you can almost feel the spray. Then, BAM, that concentrated yellow, thick and juicy, to give you the moon’s reflection on the water. He wasn't trying to give you a perfect rendering of a night scene; it's more about mood and atmosphere. It's like he’s saying, "Here’s what it *feels* like to be there." There's something so gutsy about how he's handled the paint. You can see him building the picture, stroke by stroke. It reminds me a bit of Winslow Homer's seascapes, especially how he uses light to create drama. But Benson’s got this dreamy quality, like he’s inviting you into a memory. It’s a good reminder that painting is about showing you how to see, not just what to see.