Coastal View from France 1918

Lili Elbe brushed this scene of France with oils, likely en plein air. I imagine the sun on her back, the smell of salt and the sea air, she’s trying to keep that yellow alive. There's a lot of yellow here, scrubbed in with these soft greens. The brushstrokes are confident, but not overly fussy, like she's trying to capture the essence of the place. It's like she just laid down what she felt, but with an artful intention and composition, placing those clusters of yellow flowers just so. It feels like Lili found something really joyful in nature. The water beyond is so calming, the sailboats serene. Painters are always talking to each other, across time, looking and learning. This painting is a reminder that there is no single way to see or represent the world, and each artist brings their unique vision and experience to the canvas.