Val D'Aosta, Purtud 1909

This watercolour of Val D'Aosta, was painted by John Singer Sargent. Look at how the strokes of green and brown wash across the paper, as if he were trying to capture the very essence of the forest, the light filtering through the trees. I can imagine Sargent standing there, sketchbook in hand, squinting at the scene, trying to figure out how to translate all that lushness onto a tiny piece of paper. The way he layers the colours, thin and transparent, creates a sense of depth and atmosphere. See how the blues and greens melt together in the shadows? It reminds me a bit of Cezanne, that same love of light and form. You get a real sense of Sargent's touch, the quick flicks of the brush, the way he lets the water do its thing. It's like he's whispering secrets about the forest, inviting us to come closer and listen.