Santa Monica, California 1947

This photograph, _Santa Monica, California_, by Walker Evans, captures a painting in progress, a kind of action. The marks are bold, immediate, and full of possibility. It makes me think about what artmaking is, the materials themselves, and how they talk to each other. The painting within the photograph is raw, and visceral. Look at the thick black stroke that dominates the canvas. It’s almost sculptural, demanding attention. The image suggests an open-ended process. You can almost feel the sandy texture of the beach mirroring the roughness of the painted surface, the ocean in the distance. There is also the playful addition of the child's drawing laid out on the sand and the toy car placed next to it. Evans work reminds me a little of some of the seascapes of Gustave Courbet in their directness. Yet, like all great art, it resists easy categorization. It’s a space for contemplation, a place where we can bring our own experiences and interpretations.