Strandgezicht te Domburg 1917

Jean Leon Henri Gouweloos made this small watercolor, Strandgezicht te Domburg, sometime around 1917. It’s a beach scene, all soft edges and gentle washes of color that feel as breezy as the scene itself. Look at the way Gouweloos handles the wooden posts receding into the distance, it’s so off-the-cuff. Each post is a few strokes of diluted browns and grays, the kind of quick decisions that come from a deep understanding of both the subject and the medium. The figure in the orange dress provides a spark to the muted tones, but it’s also just another daub of color, as important as the posts, the sea, and the sky. This piece reminds me of some watercolors by Manet, the same kind of immediacy. It's like Gouweloos is saying, “Here’s what I saw, quick, before the light changes!” It's the kind of art that reminds us that seeing is a process, not just a passive reception of information.