Sanary, vue sur le Cap Sicié c. 1911

Henri Lebasque painted "Sanary, vue sur le Cap Sicié" with what seems like a real love of looking, and a commitment to the sensuality of paint. Notice how he allows the marks to pool and gather, creating soft transitions from the foreground to the distant mountains, building up the image from myriad small strokes. It's as if each dab of color is a tiny observation, a moment of seeing transformed into pigment. The paint is applied in a way that feels both deliberate and spontaneous, like jazz. Look at the trees that frame the scene. The way Lebasque renders their bark with visible brushstrokes gives them a palpable presence. His work reminds me of Bonnard – there's a similar intimacy in the way he captures light and atmosphere. These artists aren't interested in photorealism; they're after something more elusive. Something about the feeling of a place. This piece invites us to slow down and savor the simple pleasures of looking.