Paesaggio 1904

Carlo Carra made this painting, Paesaggio, with visible brushstrokes in muted greens and earthy browns that feel like the Italian countryside. I can imagine him standing outside, squinting in the sun, trying to capture the light as it hit the leaves of those trees, maybe smudging and reworking the paint until it felt right. There’s something about the way the path leads your eye into the distance that makes me think about other painters like Corot, who were also trying to capture the feeling of being in a place, not just the look of it. The sky is this pale, washed-out blue, like a memory. It's as if Carra is inviting us to take a walk with him, to slow down and really see the world around us. It makes me want to pick up a brush and try to do the same.