The Ponce Paper Factory on the Edge of the Sathe Woods 1918

Maxime Maufra made this painting of the Ponce Paper Factory probably on location, en plein air, with thick, juicy strokes of oil paint. It’s a beautiful dance of greens and blues, punctuated by the creamy white of the building. I imagine Maufra standing there, squinting at the scene, trying to capture the light shimmering on the water. There's so much texture here, built up layer upon layer. You can almost feel the breeze rustling through the trees. See how he uses these little dabs of paint to create the foliage, and the way the brushstrokes follow the flow of the river? Each gesture feels so deliberate, yet so free. Maufra, like other Impressionists, was really pushing the boundaries of what painting could be, exploring how light and color could evoke emotion and atmosphere. I see echoes of Monet and Pissarro here, but with Maufra’s own unique sensibility. It's like they’re all in conversation, these painters, inspiring each other to see the world in new ways.