Luxembourg Gardens. Paris 1919

Clarence Gagnon made this painting of the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris with oil on canvas and what strikes me most is its sunny disposition. Imagine Gagnon with his easel, juggling the light and the shadows, trying to capture that particular golden hour glow. He builds up the scene with these thick strokes, like dabs of pure feeling. You can sense the joy of being in that garden, the warmth on your skin, the chatter of people passing by. Look how the dark greens of the trees contrast with the yellow path, how those quick, impressionistic figures create a sense of movement. What was he thinking as he dabbed at that purple dress, or the white one? He's clearly thinking about the Old Masters, about Velasquez, but at the same time he's just out there painting, right? It’s just a moment, like a snapshot, yet it’s held in this lovely, loose painting. That's painting for you: an ongoing conversation across time, where artists keep inspiring each other to see and feel the world in new ways.