Saint-Tropez, Sunset 1904

Curator: This is Henri Manguin’s "Saint-Tropez, Sunset," painted in 1904. Editor: The first thing I notice is how dreamlike it is. That radiant, almost honey-like light blankets everything. I am so calmed by that! Curator: Absolutely! Manguin, associated with the Fauves, beautifully captures the light and color of the Mediterranean. Note how the figure almost melts into the landscape, she's framed with such fluidity. Editor: Yes, it is that yellow is incredible. But I am seeing something, tell me more about her! The way the painter places the female figure seems as if she’s tethered to the sky but in water too. She feels melancholy but somehow complete. Curator: I am tracking! He creates such intimacy in a vast setting, right? And if you look closely, you’ll see the way he uses broken brushstrokes – touches of violet and green – suggesting the textures and shimmering reflections on the water, it’s amazing. It definitely creates a really personal mood, too. Editor: The dark mountains and the horizon act like a sort of… frame to keep that sense of solitude from floating completely off. So that tension almost turns it into a symbol for the universal themes, yes? I think this would have been an artwork to hang at home... Curator: Indeed. It feels both timeless and of its moment, doesn't it? The painting certainly showcases Manguin's skill but goes so much further. He is asking if color itself can convey feeling and he's not afraid to test the result with a hint of what comes next, what follows "this is real", can be shared between the soul and this painting, so we know that time will continue and what may seem to sit solitary doesn't truly mean lonely. Editor: Yes, "this is real", is the sensation it gave to me when first glanced. A truly gorgeous invitation.