Scheveningen, Gezicht op Strand en Kurhaus Possibly 1914

H. Guggenheim & Co. made this small card of Scheveningen, Gezicht op Strand en Kurhaus, a beachside view, using ink. What's neat is how the colours have leached together, almost like watercolour bleeds; this makes the whole scene seem like it's part of a memory. Check out the way the beach is handled. The strokes and marks are loose and free, almost like the artist wanted to capture the feel of the sand rather than just paint what they saw. And then, look at the tiny people on the beach. They are just little spots of colour, but they give a real sense of life and activity. The darks create the idea of shadows and texture, inviting you to imagine you are right there on the beach. It's a bit like looking at a Vuillard, that same intimacy with domestic life; the domestic scene is turned inside out and put on the beach. It's not precious, but it's honest. And in art, that's often the best thing you can be.