May in the Mountains 1919

Ernest Lawson painted “May in the Mountains” with oil on canvas, and the way he applied the paint really catches my eye. It's this dance of color and light, almost like he’s building the scene with tiny, vibrant blocks. Look closely, and you’ll see how the paint is laid on thick in some areas, creating this incredible texture that makes the whole scene feel alive. There's a freedom in the application that invites you to imagine the movement of his hand, the physicality of the process. Notice those stabs of white and yellow he uses to depict the blossoming trees. Each dab feels spontaneous, yet they come together to form this cohesive image of spring. Lawson’s work reminds me of Van Gogh, in how he uses visible brushstrokes to capture not just a scene, but a feeling. It’s like Lawson is saying, "Here's what I saw, but more importantly, here's how it felt to be there." Art, at its best, isn’t just about showing; it’s about feeling.