Early Morning Mist, Pont-de-l'Arche 1909

Clarence Gagnon made this painting, "Early Morning Mist, Pont-de-l'Arche," with oil paints, probably en plein air, given the subject. It's an image that hums with a soft, dreamlike quality, mostly blues, yellows, and whites, laid down in loose, impressionistic strokes. The artmaking process feels very present, not labored over, but like a quick sketch, capturing a fleeting moment. There's something so evocative about the way Gagnon handles the water. Look at those blues – from almost indigo to the palest cerulean. They are applied in short, broken strokes that suggest movement and reflection. Notice how the yellow bridge seems to glow, casting a warm light that dances on the water's surface. It's these subtle contrasts that give the painting its depth and luminosity. Gagnon reminds me of Whistler, who was interested in similar effects. Both artists seem less concerned with realistic representation and more with capturing atmosphere and mood, embracing the ambiguity and subjective experience of seeing.