Giudecca c. 1913

John Singer Sargent captured this scene of the Giudecca in watercolor, likely en plein air. The way he's handled the watery reflections and the hazy buildings is pure process. I love how Sargent lets the watercolor do its thing. See how the washes bleed into each other, creating soft edges and a dreamy atmosphere? The colors are muted, almost like a memory. I'm drawn to the way the light hits the buildings on the left, creating these sharp, angular shadows. You can almost feel the sun beating down. The strokes are so confident, so economical. Sargent wasn’t afraid to let the white of the paper show through, giving the painting a sense of lightness and airiness. This reminds me a little of Turner's Venice paintings, all about capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere, but with a touch more groundedness. It’s a reminder that art isn't about perfection; it's about exploration and discovery.