Fruit Trees 1901

Gustav Klimt made this square painting called 'Fruit Trees' sometime in his career, but we don't know exactly when. I love the stippling effect Klimt achieves, dotting the canvas with greens and yellows. It gives me that feeling when you lie on the grass and look up through the leaves at the sky. The sky appears here as glimpses of pale blue beyond the trees. You can imagine Klimt outside in the sunshine, patiently marking the canvas, trying to capture the particular quality of light and atmosphere. I wonder if he worked on it over days, weeks, or months? Did he keep coming back to the same spot, or did the painting happen all at once? I’m sure other painters like Monet were on his mind! We should remember that painting is an embodied practice and artists are always inspired by the work of others. Painting is a conversation! And there's no final word, just a continual back and forth. Each painter adding their particular vision, embracing the endless possibilities and happy accidents!