Courmayeur 1928

Achille Beltrame's "Courmayeur" presents a tranquil scene, painted with what looks like watercolor. The colors, a muted symphony of grays and greens, suggest a day when the mountains wear a veil of mist. The paint here is so fluid, it almost feels like the colors are exhaling onto the canvas, layer upon layer. I can feel the artist's hand moving quickly to capture the ephemeral atmosphere. The way Beltrame renders the mountains is fascinating. Rather than attempting to capture every ridge and peak, he lets the watercolor bleed and blend, creating a sense of depth and scale. Notice the way the soft, indistinct forms of the mountains contrast with the sharper, more defined shapes of the village buildings. The entire piece has a gentleness, reminiscent of Corot, who also sought to capture the poetic essence of a place. Like him, Beltrame shows how art can be a form of quiet contemplation.