The Red Turret 1920

Ernest Lawson made this painting, called "The Red Turret", with oil on canvas. Look at the crusty surface of this painting, the way the paint sits up like stiff icing! I imagine Lawson working outdoors, trying to capture the fleeting light, dabbing at the canvas with short, energetic strokes. He’s got this high horizon line, with these buildings nestled in the landscape. I feel Lawson's presence in the materiality of the paint itself—that impasto must have felt so good under the brush! And the colors—earthy greens, muted yellows, and that pop of red in the turret—they're all mixed and mashed together. He was part of a group called "The Eight," artists who wanted to paint everyday life. You can see how he was inspired by Impressionists like Monet, but Lawson brought his own touch. Painting is such a conversation across time, with each artist adding their voice to the mix!