Branding 1900 - 1931

O. Droegl made this small picture of waves and sky, with what looks like watercolours. I can see the artist working, trying to figure out how to render this vast sea into a small rectangle. Did the artist think about Hokusai as they made it? I bet they did. I can almost feel the artist's mind at work, making all these decisions about colour and movement. How to make this sea look vast with just a few brushstrokes. It’s quite moody, actually, with its muted palette of grey, white, and blue. The artist lays down the foamy waves in thick white strokes, which contrast against the watery translucence beneath. Painters, we're all in conversation, always looking and borrowing, aren't we? This image is another way of seeing, thinking, and feeling the world, and it's an exchange of ideas across time that keeps us all inspired. So, next time you’re at the beach, remember O. Droegl!