Apollo fra Veji 1911

Marie Henriques made this dreamy watercolor of Apollo, probably in the late 19th or early 20th century. The washes are so fluid, like she built up the form of the statue with layers of colored light. I imagine Henriques in front of this ancient sculpture, trying to capture its essence through delicate strokes, trying to find her own way of seeing the world. I can almost feel the coolness of the studio, the gentle light filtering in as she mixes her paints. Look at how the blues and browns blend together, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. It's as if she's not just painting a statue, but also the very air around it. It reminds me of other artists who were grappling with history and form, like Corot, maybe, or even some of the early modernists. Painting is always this conversation across time, isn't it? We borrow, steal, and transform, each of us trying to find our own voice through the medium. And in the end, that's all that matters: the feeling, the expression, the sheer joy of making something new.