Kvinderne ved brønden. Portugal. 1911

Othon Friesz made this drawing, Kvinderne ved brønden. Portugal, with ink on paper. The drawing has a really lovely, spontaneous feel, like it was knocked off in one go. Look at those swooping ink marks, how they create such drama. Trees, people, buildings – Friesz has distilled the scene right down to its essence. I can almost feel the heat shimmering off the ground, the coolness under the trees, the chatter of women gathered at the well. I wonder if Friesz was thinking about the Fauves when he made this drawing. It reminds me of some of their landscapes, wild and free. It's like he's saying, hey, art can be a feeling, not just a picture. And that's a really cool thing, you know? So, let’s celebrate those artists who came before and laid the groundwork for exploration!