Three Houses, Barn and Chicken Coop, Stonington, Maine 1922

John Marin made this watercolor painting, 'Three Houses, Barn and Chicken Coop, Stonington, Maine,' with loose, washy strokes. The pinks, blues, and greens meld into a scene that feels both solid and dreamlike. Imagine him standing there, maybe a bit windswept, trying to capture the essence of these buildings, not just how they look, but how they *feel*. It’s like he’s trying to pin down a memory, something just out of reach. Look at the way he lets the watercolor bleed and blend. It's like the houses are breathing, alive. The thin paint suggests a fleeting moment, a quick impression. There’s a sense of playful experimentation here, a willingness to let the medium lead the way. Marin wasn't afraid to let the painting have its own voice, and it's this conversation between artist and material that makes the work so engaging, so human. It reminds me how artists build on each other, borrowing and innovating, keeping the dialogue going across time.