Sóller on the north coast of Mallorca 1905

Santiago Rusiñol made this painting of Sóller on the north coast of Mallorca with soft brushstrokes, mostly blues and browns, capturing a view from the land out to the sea. The eye is drawn along the coast. I'm thinking about how Rusiñol must have looked at that coastline and the way the structures and details of the architecture and boats fade into the distance. It's a painterly rendition but with enough detail to tell the story of this place. The colours feel light but there are also quite dark, earthy brown tones in the foreground, giving it real depth and a sense of drama. You feel the physical act of Rusiñol capturing this scene from life, with all the challenges that brings. It makes you think about how all artists are in an ongoing conversation, exchanging ideas across time. What would Rusiñol think of it now? I find painting is an ongoing question—there is ambiguity, uncertainty, and multiple readings, as well as a shared understanding of the possibilities of painting across time.