Spanish Fountain 1912

John Singer Sargent made this watercolour of a Spanish Fountain. I love the directness of it, how the washes pool and blend. It makes the whole thing feel so immediate, like a snapshot in time. The color palette is muted, mostly browns, grays, blues and creams, but within that limited range there's so much variation and subtlety. Look at how he suggests the play of light and shadow on the water, with these quick, gestural strokes. It's not about photorealistic detail; it's about capturing the essence of a thing, its feeling. Then there's the way he handles the architecture of the fountain. He implies details without overworking them, trusting the viewer to fill in the gaps. It makes me think of someone like Morandi, finding endless possibilities within a narrow focus. Ultimately, painting isn't about answers, it's about questions, about an ongoing conversation with the world.