Water lilies 1930

Hélène Guinepied made these water lilies using watercolour and ink. It's as if I can see her, brush in hand, perched on the edge of a pond, squinting to capture the shimmering light and colours dancing on the water's surface. There's this cool, almost electric blue, that vibrates against the dark brown of the reeds. Look closely and you'll see how the ink outlines aren't just boundaries, but energetic strokes, full of movement. The paper peeks through in places, creating this sense of light. It reminds me a little of Emil Nolde's way of capturing the raw energy of nature, but here it is in a more intimate way. I can imagine her contemplating the paintings of Monet. Guinepied makes it her own, translating it into something heartfelt. It's a painter thinking about painting, sharing a moment of beauty with us.