The Thundershower c. 1916

Henry Lyman Saÿen made this painting called 'The Thundershower,' and it's all about how he puts the paint down, kind of like a puzzle or a collage. There's such a mix of patterns, like those floral fabrics bumping up against the solid colors. The paint looks pretty thin, almost like watercolor in places, but then there are these bold, flat shapes that really pop. Look at the figure in the middle – it's like he's carving out a shape with the color, not just filling it in. That red, it’s not just red, it’s like a shout, right? The whole thing feels like he's playing with what's flat and what's got depth, making you see the painting as a thing, not just a picture. It reminds me a bit of some of those early modernists, like Sonia Delaunay, who were also into mixing up design and fine art, pushing the limits of what painting could be. Definitely a conversation starter!