The Seine Viewed from the Pont Neuf, Winter 1902

Camille Pissarro painted this small canvas of the Seine in winter from the Pont Neuf with oil on canvas. Look closely, and you'll see how Pissarro built this scene with a patchwork of tiny brushstrokes, a mosaic of whites, greys, and just a hint of pale blues and pinks. What I love about it is how the material qualities – the texture, the surface, the visible brushwork – all contribute to the feeling of a cold, crisp winter day. See that little dab of pale pink, right there in the center of the sky? It's like a tiny burst of warmth amidst the grey, a little moment of hope. The paint isn’t too thick, but it is opaque, you get a sense that the painting was completed in one sitting, or maybe two at the most. Pissarro, like his contemporary Monet, was obsessed with capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. Think about artists like Agnes Martin, who also used muted palettes and repetitive marks to create a sense of quiet contemplation. Art is an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas across time and space.