Gamle huse i Falaise, Normandiet 1901 - 1904

Othon Friesz made this painting, ‘Gamle huse i Falaise, Normandiet’, with oil on paper, and it's a real lesson in how to make a lot out of a little. It’s a monochrome world, varying shades of grey working hard to show us this street in Normandy. I love how Friesz handled the paint here – not fussing too much, letting the strokes be visible, like he's inviting us into his process. Look closely at the rooftops, how the brush dances, creating texture and form with such economy. It's like he's saying, "Here's the essence, you fill in the rest." There’s a certain humility in the way Friesz approaches his subject, he’s not trying to impress, just trying to see. Thinking about other painters, Friesz has shades of someone like Morandi, in the way he finds poetry in the everyday, transforming simple subjects into something quietly profound. For me, this piece is a reminder that art isn't about perfection, it's about the dialogue, the questions, and the joy of seeing.