Harbor Scene c. 1923

Raoul Dufy made this watercolor of a Harbor Scene, and what strikes me is the feeling of joyful improvisation. The colors are light and airy, mostly blues and pastels, giving it a breezy, summery feel. You can really see Dufy's process in the way he layers the washes of color. The paint is thin and transparent, allowing the white of the paper to shine through and create a sense of luminosity. Look how the masts of the sailboats are rendered with just a few quick strokes of the brush. There's a wonderful economy of means here. In the lower left, there's a cluster of flags and sails that are particularly lively. The colors are a bit more intense here, and the lines are more energetic. It's like a little burst of pure visual energy. This piece reminds me a bit of Matisse, especially in the way he uses color to create a sense of space and light. Ultimately, Dufy invites us to embrace the messy, unpredictable nature of life.