Simplon Pass Chalets 1911

John Singer Sargent made this watercolor painting of the Simplon Pass Chalets, and just looking at the strokes I can imagine him there, balancing the paper on his knees, painting *en plein air.* There’s something so immediate about watercolor, and in this work, Sargent really captures the light and atmosphere of the Alpine landscape. You can see these quick, transparent washes of blues, browns, and yellows which create a sense of depth and form. What could he have been thinking as he painted? I love the way he suggests the texture of the chalets and the ruggedness of the mountains with just a few deft strokes. It’s like he’s saying so much with so little, leaving space for the viewer to fill in the details. The painting has a breezy, ephemeral quality, a fleeting moment captured in paint. Like many artists, Sargent was inspired by those who came before him. It makes me think of the watercolors of Turner. It’s all one big conversation between painters, across time.