Bord De Seine c. 1922

Maximilien Luce made this oil painting, Bord De Seine, possibly en plein air, with a patient build-up of brushstrokes, trying to capture the scene just so. You can see how the paint is built up in layers, particularly in the sky and the reflections on the water. I imagine Luce standing by the river, squinting slightly, trying to capture the soft light on the Seine. He's building up the image, area by area, responding to what he sees, but also to what the paint itself is doing, creating a beautiful interplay between observation and intuition. Look at that little bird flying over the water. It feels like an addition, an afterthought. But actually, it is the focal point that brings the piece to life. It's a reminder that painting, like life, is full of surprises. What Luce is doing here reminds me of Sisley or Pissarro; they are all painting what they see, but are also painting each other. I often think about how artists are always responding to one another, creating a visual conversation across time and space.