Central Park in Winter 1905

William James Glackens made this painting of Central Park in Winter, but when I look at it, I don't think of winter so much as the end of the day. You can tell from the brushstrokes he’s really having fun with the oil paint, how the blues and whites are applied loosely, like he's sketching with color. What’s so great about this painting is the way Glackens captures the feeling of a day winding down. Look at the way he drags the paint to create those blurry figures. It’s as if he’s telling a story about how we see things when we’re tired or maybe a little tipsy. It reminds me of the paintings of Bonnard, who also used these weird, dark colors to create dreamlike images of ordinary life. Ultimately, I feel that this piece is about seeing and feeling, not about knowing. And it’s okay if we don’t know exactly what’s going on. That’s where the magic is.