Silver Birches 1904

Albert Benois made 'Silver Birches' using oil paint, probably around 1900, and what hits me first is how immediate and direct the application of paint is. The picture has this hazy, dream-like quality. Look closely at the surface of the water, see how the muted blues and greens blend together, almost dissolving into one another? Benois creates this effect through thin, transparent layers of paint, each stroke laid down with intention, but also allowing for chance encounters and unexpected combinations. The reflections of the trees in the water are almost ghostly, like memories fading with time. Now, consider the two little birds soaring above the misty treeline. These details serve as more than just visual elements; they’re emotional anchors, inviting us to reflect on the interplay of ephemerality and stillness, much like the work of Whistler. I see painting as a conversation across generations, each artist learning from and building upon the work of those who came before.