By the Lorne River near Caen 1925

Gustave Loiseau made "By the Lorne River near Caen" with oil paints, and I think he really enjoyed the process. The way the brushstrokes build up this scene, it feels like he’s less trying to copy nature and more just responding to it, mark by mark. Look at how he handles the river, those vertical strokes of blues and greens, broken up by little flicks of light. It’s like the water is shimmering, alive. And then, over in the field, see how he uses these dry, scumbled strokes to build up the texture of the grass. You can almost feel the sun beating down on it. It’s not just about what the scene looks like, but about how it feels to be there, in that moment. Loiseau reminds me a little of someone like Pissarro, who was always searching for a way to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. These artists really embrace the idea that painting is a conversation.