Im Sonnenlicht c. 1921

Leo Putz made "Im Sonnenlicht" with oil on canvas, and it's just shimmering with light, isn't it? There's a real sense of process here, like you can feel him figuring out the light as he goes, dabbing and stroking. I love how the paint kind of clumps in places, especially around the water, giving it this almost tactile quality. It's not just water, it's globs of paint pretending to be water, which is the real magic trick of painting, right? The way he's built up the surface, you can almost feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. Look at the woman's hat – the way he’s layered those colors, it’s like she’s caught in a sunbeam. It reminds me a little of Sorolla, that same love of light and capturing fleeting moments. But Putz has this earthiness that makes it feel so immediate and alive. It's a great reminder that painting is all about embracing the mess and finding beauty in the in-between.