Evening, San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice c. 1900 - 1920

Eugène Vail captured Venice at twilight on paper with delicate strokes of charcoal, which I can totally relate to. You know, starting with a blank surface, then slowly, tentatively building up layers. The velvety blacks and hazy grays evoke a melancholic mood that feels so typically Venetian. Imagine Vail standing there, trying to capture that fleeting moment as dusk settles over the lagoon. Did he smudge the charcoal with his fingers to soften the edges, searching for the right atmosphere? That single figure in the foreground raising his arm—is he hailing a boat, or simply lost in contemplation of the view? There’s such a sense of mystery, like a scene from a half-remembered dream. The buildings are softened so that they almost disappear into the sky. It reminds me of Whistler’s nocturnes. We’re all inspired by what came before, right? Seeing this, I'm thinking about heading to my studio now.