Stour River 1913

Frederick George Cotman painted this scene of the Stour River using oil on canvas, and what I notice first is how he's handled the sky. It feels like a wash, a sort of hazy, dreamy space made with really thin paint. You can almost feel the dampness in the air, right? Now, let's talk about the ground. Look at those strokes of yellow and brown, laid down so deliberately. It's not about perfection, it's about capturing a mood, a moment. You can almost smell the earth. Cotman's touch is so present. The brushstrokes aren’t trying to hide; they're part of the story. This reminds me of Constable, who was also obsessed with capturing the English landscape, but with a bit more grit, a bit less polish. Art is just one big conversation, after all, each artist responding to those who came before, adding their own voice to the mix. It’s never about having the last word, but about keeping the dialogue alive.