Mount Athos, 1904 (from Sketchbook) 1904

Mary Newbold Sargent made this watercolor of Mount Athos in 1904 in what appears to be a sketchbook. The dominant tones are greyscale, with brushstrokes that seem light and airy, suggesting a fleeting moment captured in ink. You can almost imagine her quickly sketching the outline of the mountain range and the reflection in the water. I sympathize with her, trying to capture the essence of this place. Maybe she was thinking about the historical and spiritual significance of Mount Athos while she worked, or perhaps she was simply drawn to the landscape's majestic presence. It's like she’s in conversation with other landscape painters, like Turner, maybe even Cezanne. That single dab of ink for the mountaintop— it speaks volumes about the artist's intention, maybe a feeling, a memory, or a desire to connect with nature. It’s as if she wanted to leave the viewer to consider the infinite possibilities held within the landscape. I love how artists are always talking to each other across time, sparking new ideas.