Twilight 1901

Joan Brull painted this landscape, most likely in oil, as a fleeting moment of twilight. The colors are muted, almost dusky – as if the painting itself is exhaling the last light of the day. I imagine Brull standing there, trying to capture that particular shade of gray that hovers between blue and green. It’s like he’s trying to nail down a feeling more than a scene. Those cypress trees stand so straight, punctuating the horizon like exclamation points! And that little figure walking along the road? Are they lonely, pensive, or just heading home after a long day? I love the mystery that comes with paintings, you know? It is as if all of us artists are having one long conversation across time. Brull’s work makes me think about Corot and other painters interested in capturing everyday fleeting moments. Ultimately, painting for me is about embracing ambiguity, which allows for all kinds of readings.