Church at Orgeruse 1908

Auguste Herbin painted “Church at Orgeruse” with blocks of color that feel both calm and a little off-kilter. It’s like he’s inviting us to see the world not quite as it is, but how it feels to him. The surface has this chalky, matte quality, making the colors feel grounded. Look at the way the tree on the right is outlined with this kind of hesitant, electric blue and reddish-purple. It’s not about making a perfect tree, but about feeling the tree, you know? That peachy road pulls you in, but it's also kind of flat, like a stage. Herbin's playing with depth, pushing and pulling our eyes, messing with perspective to show us something deeper than just what a church or a tree looks like. It reminds me a little of Milton Avery, that lovely simplicity, but with an added edge. Herbin's not afraid to let things be a little awkward, a little strange. And that's where the magic happens.