The Pergola 1920

Henri Martin made this painting, The Pergola, with oil on canvas, but when? The date's a mystery! Look at how he builds the image from tiny dots of color. It's almost like he's not just painting what he sees, but how he sees. Artmaking, for me, is a process of discovery, a conversation between intention and accident, control and surrender. See the way the light flickers on the leaves above the pergola? Martin isn't trying to fool you into thinking it's real. Instead, he lays down these little marks, a mosaic of color. The paint isn't thick, but the surface is alive, each touch vibrating with light. It reminds me of Seurat, but with a warmer, more human touch. Ultimately, it's the artist's personal connection that elevates this work beyond a mere visual exercise.