Lime Kiln, Baie-Saint-Paul 1926

Clarence Gagnon made this fiery landscape of Baie-Saint-Paul with crayon, building marks in layers. See how each stroke, each color dances with its neighbor? The image feels both carefully observed and wildly imagined, and I can really feel the artist working in the cold. Gagnon is wrestling with a scene, thinking about the town, the kiln, and smoke billowing into the atmosphere, all at the same time. What was it like for him to stand there, bundled in a coat, trying to capture the light glinting off the snow? I notice how the buildings are full of expressive energy with their rough-hewn lines. The crayon isn't blended; instead, each stroke sings its own note. This piece reminds me of Van Gogh's expressive use of color and brushstroke to convey emotion. Artists are constantly in dialogue with each other. They are inspired by what has come before, finding new ways to see and feel the world. This drawing is so visceral and immediate. It’s about feeling as much as seeing.