Arnacle Geese Possibly 1935

Archibald Thorburn painted these Arnacle Geese in 1935 using watercolour. Looking at this piece, it’s clear that for Thorburn, painting was about more than just representation; it was a process of seeing and feeling the world. The thin washes of color create a sense of atmosphere, almost like looking at a memory rather than a photograph. Notice how the white of the paper shines through, giving the painting a delicate, almost ethereal quality. The details on the geese are precise, yet the overall effect is soft and dreamlike. See the way the geese seem to emerge from the misty background? This reminds me a little of the work of Winslow Homer, especially his watercolors. Like Homer, Thorburn uses the fluidity of the medium to capture the fleeting beauty of the natural world. It's a conversation across time, each artist building upon the ideas of those who came before. And, like all great art, it invites us to bring our own experiences and interpretations to the table.