Ponte della Canonica 1903 - 1907

John Singer Sargent made this watercolor, Ponte della Canonica, probably in the early 20th century. Look at how he’s used a range of warm, earthy tones, that feels immediate, like he was trying to capture a fleeting moment. I love that! It’s like he’s reminding us that art making is as much about feeling as it is about seeing. Notice the textures here – how the washes of color create a sense of depth and atmosphere. You can almost feel the dampness of the canal, the way the light dances on the water. And then there are those dark, decisive strokes that define the boats and buildings, anchoring the scene. My eye is drawn to the way he’s rendered the reflections in the water. It’s like a mirror image, but distorted, fluid. I’m reminded of the way Turner would use watercolor to capture the sublime power of nature, but with a more intimate, personal touch. It's a reminder that art is never finished, only abandoned. Each mark, each gesture, is a step in an ongoing conversation that stretches across time and space.