Olives in Spain 1922

Augustus John created this painting of Olives in Spain, using visible brushstrokes and a warm, earthy palette. You can really see the touch of the artist here, can't you? It's like watching him wrestle with the scene right there on the canvas. The material handling, the way he layers the paint, gives the whole landscape a kind of breathing quality. Look at the way he dabs and drags the paint, especially in the foreground rocks, how he gives the impression of sunlight hitting different surfaces. It's like he's trying to capture not just what he sees, but what he feels in that moment. I think of Cezanne, who also had such a deep engagement with the landscape through paint, or maybe even Van Gogh, and his expressive brushwork. I love how it leaves space for the viewer to fill in the gaps, and to bring their own experiences and emotions to the work. Art is an ongoing dialogue, you know?