Velieri sullo scalo a Viareggio 1937

Galileo Chini painted this oil of boats in Viareggio with colours that seem pulled straight from the Tuscan coast itself. The painting isn't about perfect shapes; it's more about the feel of being there, the colours and textures of the scene. Look at how Chini uses thick daubs of paint to build up the surfaces, creating a rough, almost tactile quality. The greens and blues of the boats blend with the sandy hues of the ground, making the whole scene feel like a single, unified thing. Notice how the paint is applied in short, choppy strokes, almost like he’s building the scene up layer by layer. There’s a real sense of physicality, of Chini wrestling with the paint to capture the essence of the place. It reminds me of Cezanne, who had a similar approach, building up forms through colour and texture. Ultimately, Chini isn't trying to give us a clear, polished picture. Instead, he invites us to experience the world through his eyes, in all its messy, beautiful complexity.