Meeting on the Island 1934

Benedetta Cappa made this painting, 'Meeting on the Island,' using bold strokes of blues and browns. You can almost feel her standing there, brush in hand, watching how the island hunkers down into the water. I get the sense that Cappa wasn't trying to replicate the scene, but to feel it. The paint isn't delicate; it’s slapped on, confident. Look how the blue of the sea isn't just one note, but a mix of hues pulled across the surface. It’s like she's saying, "Here’s the ocean, take it or leave it!" That arch in the rock – isn’t that something? It frames the water like a window, a portal, or maybe an invitation. I can imagine her, squinting, mixing colors on her palette, trying to get that just-right shade of brown for the rocks. The conversation between painters is never-ending. We look, we borrow, we argue, and then we make something new. Cappa does this so beautifully here, with her raw, heartfelt vision.