Hudson River near Alpine 1910

John Marin made this watercolor painting, Hudson River near Alpine, using paper and brushstrokes that feel like pure feeling. The way he’s put down these washes, layering blues and purples, it’s like he’s trying to catch the light shimmering off the water, or the mist hanging over the cliffs. He’s not trying to copy what he sees, but to translate it, you know? Look how the paint bleeds and blossoms. You can almost feel the dampness in the air. There's one little pink stroke right at the top, could be a cloud, could be the sun. It just sits there, this little dab of warmth against all the cool blues, and it makes the whole thing sing. It's so simple, but so effective. Marin reminds me of Marsden Hartley, in the way he uses these elemental landscapes to get at something deeper, something about the soul. He's not trying to give you answers, just opening up a space for you to feel.