A Landscape Study 1912

Harry Phelan Gibb made this landscape study with what looks like watercolour or ink. See how he's built up the image from individual marks, almost like he's building a puzzle, with each stroke contributing to the overall form. I'm really drawn to the way Gibb uses the tonal qualities of monochrome to suggest texture. In the foreground, see those vertical strokes? They feel like they're popping out toward you, becoming almost three-dimensional. And the softer, smudged areas in the background? They give the impression of distance, like a hazy atmosphere receding into the horizon. It reminds me of someone like Emil Nolde, with his expressive brushwork, but Gibb's piece feels more immediate, less labored. It feels like a direct response to the landscape. It’s a reminder that art isn't about perfection, but about capturing a feeling.