River in Autumn 1919

Gustave Loiseau made this painting of a river in autumn with oils on canvas. It's got that loose, impressionistic feel – you can almost see him dabbing at the canvas, trying to catch the light on the water and the way the leaves are turning. I imagine Loiseau standing by the river, squinting, trying to make sense of all that flickering color. Look at how he builds up the paint in layers, especially in the trees. There’s a real sense of depth and texture there, like you could reach out and feel the bark. It makes me think about how all these artists are in conversation with each other, riffing on the same themes, but each with their own little twist. I see a little Monet in here, but Loiseau's got his own thing going on. That one stroke of bright orange near the center, it's like a little spark that brings the whole painting to life. Painting is like that, isn't it? One little gesture can change everything. It’s never just about what you see, but about how you feel, and what you bring to the experience.