The Louvre, Morning 1903

Camille Pissarro made this small painting of the Louvre one morning, probably in the late 1890s. Just look at the earthy, muddy palette and the thickly applied strokes of paint – so direct and physical! You can almost feel him dabbing and daubing with his brush, trying to capture the light and atmosphere of Paris. I can imagine Pissarro setting up his easel, feeling the chill in the air, squinting at the rising sun. You know, it's like he's wrestling with the scene, pushing and pulling the paint around until it finally clicks into place. See how the dark strokes of the bridge sit next to the lighter tones of the buildings? It's like a delicate dance between observation and expression. Pissarro was always exploring new ways of seeing, inspired by artists like Monet and Cezanne, but also forging his own path. I find the painting feels so alive and unresolved, and in that way, it reminds me a bit of my own process. It feels like Pissarro is inviting us to participate in the act of seeing. It reminds me that painting is a conversation across time, constantly evolving.