Summer Sea, Newquay, Cornwall 1920

Albert Julius Olsson made this painting, Summer Sea, Newquay, Cornwall, with oil paints. Olsson uses marks and hues to build up a rich, textured surface. The brushstrokes feel intuitive, like he's responding to the rhythm of the waves. The paint isn't overly thick, but you can still sense the physicality of the medium. It's like he's layering light itself, catching the sun's reflection on the water. Look at how the paint seems to drag on the rocks on the lower right side of the painting; a kind of material echo of the water itself. This kind of movement reminds me of Monet, but there's also a uniquely personal touch here. Olsson isn't just recording what he sees. He is showing you what it feels like to experience a Cornish summer, how it lives in your memory. For me, it embodies the notion that art is always a conversation, a playful exchange of ideas, always open to new interpretations.