The Little Bridge 1915

Henri Martin made "The Little Bridge," sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century, probably in his studio using oil paint. I can almost feel Martin dabbing at the canvas, building up the image bit by bit with tiny brushstrokes. The colours are earthy and muted, all browns, greens and greys. It feels like a wet day, like the air is heavy with moisture. I can see him standing there, squinting at the scene, trying to capture the way the light hits the stones of the bridge. What was he thinking about when he painted this, this very solid bridge, this symbol of connection? Was he thinking about the way bridges connect people, or was he just trying to capture the way the light reflects off the water? Maybe he was inspired by Impressionists like Monet or Pissarro. You can see their influence in the way he uses light and colour. It’s like he’s in conversation with them, adding his own voice to the mix. Painting is such a personal thing, right? It's a way of seeing and feeling the world, and sharing that with others, even long after you're gone. It's all about those little marks, and how they come together to create something bigger than themselves.