On the Heights c. 1909

Charles Courtney Curran made this painting, ‘On the Heights’ with oil on canvas, and what gets me is the way he's built the image from these delicate, almost fleeting strokes. It’s like he’s trying to catch a moment, not just represent it. Look at how the light catches the folds of their white dresses – the paint isn’t thick, but it’s applied in a way that gives a real sense of texture. There's a lot of white, naturally, but also these subtle blues and greys that stop it from being too sweet. The way he suggests the forms with light and shadow makes me think of John Singer Sargent – that same ability to create a sense of elegance and leisure with a few well-placed strokes. But Curran also has his own thing going on. There's a stillness to the scene, a sense of quiet contemplation, that feels very contemporary. In the end, this painting isn't just about beauty, it's about the experience of seeing, the pleasure of light, and the way that art can capture something that is fleeting and elusive.