L'escale 1913

André Lhote’s painting, *L'escale*, presents us with a bustling scene rendered in angular forms and a muted, earthy palette. It’s like he's wrestling with the canvas, pushing and pulling the paint into something just beyond reach. The texture of the piece is fascinating – thick in some areas, almost transparent in others. Look at the way Lhote builds up the forms of the figures. It's almost sculptural. The paint seems to have been applied with broad strokes, maybe a palette knife, leaving these rough edges that catch the light. See how the balustrade is so geometric, yet the dog lounging beside it is more fluid? That’s Lhote, playing with our expectations, and showing us painting is a process. This piece reminds me a little of Juan Gris, same kind of structural approach, but Lhote has a warmer touch. Ultimately, art is this ongoing conversation.