Bathers 1922

Leo Putz made this painting, titled "Bathers," with oil on canvas. I love the way the brushstrokes conjure up the scene. You can almost feel the cool water and the dappled sunlight on the bathers' skin. I'm imagining Putz working on this outside; the smell of the paint mixing with the fresh air! Look at that confident stroke of dark green that defines the edge of the riverbank, it communicates everything! The overall effect is one of effortless sensuality. It reminds me a little of Renoir, but with a slightly more modern, bolder touch. What do we, as artists, really do except look at each other's work, steal ideas, and try to make something new? It’s a conversation across time, and that's what keeps painting alive. It's not about answers, but more about questions.