Ha Long Bay, Vietnam 1932

Alexandre Jacovleff made this painting of Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, with oil on canvas, and the cool tones make it feel so serene. Look at how he’s built up the colours, this layering effect is something I also love to play with in my own paintings. The texture of the paint gives a real sense of depth to the water and sky, it’s amazing. There’s such a looseness in the brushstrokes, which gives the whole scene an ethereal quality. See how the paint seems to blend together, creating these soft, hazy edges, especially around the rock formations. He's captured the feeling of a misty morning so beautifully. And then that little boat, it seems so small against the landscape. Jacovleff reminds me of Whistler in the way he uses a limited palette to evoke a specific mood. Neither artist is trying to capture a scene perfectly; they’re more interested in the feeling and atmosphere. It’s not about the detail, it’s about the experience.