The Seine after the Storm 1908

John Marin made this watercolor, "The Seine after the Storm," with delicate washes of blues, grays, yellows, and tans. You can almost feel the artist, standing there, trying to capture the way the light shifts after a downpour, right? I imagine him, quickly laying down these translucent layers, letting the white of the paper shine through, like the sun peeking through the clouds. It's all about capturing a fleeting moment, and I totally get that impulse. I feel it myself when I'm trying to nail the exact shade of pink in a sunset. Look at how he renders the bridge—just a few strokes, but you know exactly what it is. It reminds me of some of the early modernists, like Whistler, who were also obsessed with capturing atmosphere and mood. There’s a real sense of freedom and spontaneity in Marin's work, which I find super inspiring. It's like he's saying, "Don't overthink it, just go with your gut."