Rainy Day on the Deck of the Yacht Constellation 1924

John Singer Sargent made this watercolour, Rainy Day on the Deck of the Yacht Constellation, with loose washes in muted browns, greys, and blues. I can almost feel the dampness in the air. It’s a scene of leisure, but the weather seems to be intruding on the experience. I can imagine Sargent on deck, trying to capture the scene quickly before the light shifts again. He's working fast, trying to get all the details down with just a few brushstrokes. Look at the way he suggests the figures with just a few dabs of colour. The transparency of the watercolour adds to the feeling of transience, like the moment could disappear at any second. This piece reminds me of some of Winslow Homer’s watercolours; both artists share a similar interest in capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. Artists are always in conversation with one another, aren’t they? They pick up ideas, riff on them, and make them their own. Paintings are a continuous, ongoing conversation between generations. They offer multiple interpretations, and embrace ambiguity. They are an invitation to a more open way of seeing.