Landscape in Falaise 1902

Editor: Raoul Dufy’s "Landscape in Falaise," created in 1902 using watercolor, presents a lush and tranquil park scene. What strikes me immediately is the layering of greens and the almost dappled effect of the light filtering through the trees. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Formally, the work showcases Dufy's keen interest in the interplay between light and shadow. Notice the repetitive, almost staccato brushstrokes which define the foliage. These function less as representational elements and more as units in a broader compositional scheme, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: I see that. It’s like he’s built the entire scene out of these little blocks of color, instead of painting the trees directly. How does that construction affect the image overall? Curator: Exactly. It dissolves the clear boundaries between forms. The varying saturations and values create an almost palpable sense of depth. Dufy seems intent on fragmenting and then recomposing reality through purely pictorial means. Are you picking up on his structural logic? Editor: Yes, it's fascinating how the structural arrangement supersedes any need for naturalistic accuracy, and the eye has to sort of reassemble everything. I can now also perceive a more distinct appreciation of form. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: And I find that our discussion helped highlight the strength of visual organization in generating meaning. Editor: Definitely, and I feel a step closer to analyzing structure over subject.