Knightsbridge from Sloane Street, London (Fine December Morning) 1913

Jacques-Émile Blanche made this painting of Knightsbridge in London with oil paint, maybe in the late 19th or early 20th century. What I love about it is the way he's captured the feeling of a city street, not by showing every little detail, but by using these quick, loose strokes of paint. It’s like he’s giving us the essence of a bustling scene, smearing and dragging the paint to create form. Look at the way he's built up the buildings with these little rectangles and squares of color. They almost feel like they’re breathing. And then there's the way he's painted the figures – just a few strokes and dabs, but you get a real sense of their movement and presence. My eye is drawn to the lower centre, to the small black dog. Isn't it amazing how just a few strokes of black paint can evoke a whole little personality? Blanche reminds me a little bit of Vuillard, in the way he captures everyday life with such warmth and intimacy. But where Vuillard is soft and gentle, Blanche has a bit more of an edge, a bit more grit. And that's what makes this painting so compelling, I think. It's a reminder that even the most ordinary scenes can be full of beauty and mystery, if you just take the time to really look.