Petit bassin près de la tonnelle sud de Marquayrol c. 1920

Henri Martin made this painting of a small pond near a trellis in Marquayrol, France, using oil paint in a pointillist style. It’s like he’s tap-tap-tapping the canvas with little dots of color that blend in your eye. What strikes me about this painting is its materiality - the way the surface is built up with those tiny strokes, creating a tapestry of color. Look closely at the water. The paint is applied in layers, creating a sense of depth and reflection. You can almost feel the stillness of the pond, the cool, damp air, and the warmth of the sun. There's a quietness, a sense of peace. Martin’s work reminds me a bit of Pierre Bonnard, another painter who used color and light to evoke a sense of intimacy and emotion. Art is like a conversation that keeps going. There's no one right way to see it, it's all about feeling.