The Vistula near Tyniec at Sunset 1901

Leon Wyczółkowski gave us this oil painting, Vistula near Tyniec at Sunset, at the turn of the twentieth century. Look at the colours, how they seem to bleed into each other, creating a soft, hazy atmosphere. You can see how the painting emerges through layers, a process of seeing, feeling, and responding to the world. There’s a real sense of depth here, achieved through colour and tone. The way the blues and purples of the distant hills melt into the soft yellows and oranges of the sky. It feels as though Wyczółkowski captured the essence of a fleeting moment, the way light transforms the landscape. Notice how the brushstrokes are visible, yet the details remain undefined? It's like a memory, hazy and dreamlike. This work reminds me of the paintings of the Hudson River School, that shared interest in light and atmosphere, but Wyczółkowski's mark-making feels more immediate. Art is, after all, an ongoing conversation, each artist responding to those who came before, adding their own voice to the mix.