On the Banks of the Nile 1905

Hermann Corrodi made this painting of the Nile sometime in the 19th century with oil on canvas. Look at how the painter has laid down the colors, so smooth and controlled, almost like he’s trying to make the paint disappear. The colors are so pale and hazy, it makes the scene feel like it's emerging from a dream, or fading into one. Everything is so soft, like the world is holding its breath. Notice the light reflecting on the water. It’s not just a flat sheen, but a broken, shifting surface. It reminds me of the work of J.M.W. Turner, with his focus on light and atmosphere, turning landscapes into these ethereal visions. Like Turner, Corrodi invites us to lose ourselves in the immensity and mystery of the world. It's a good reminder that art is less about answers, and more about endless questions.