Aquarium 1909

Theo van Rysselberghe made this painting, Aquarium, with oil on canvas, and what a world he conjures! I can imagine him, brush in hand, like a conductor leading an orchestra of colors. The way the light flickers, it's like the artist captured a fleeting moment, the sun dancing on the water's surface. Did he have an aquarium, or just a vivid memory of one? I wonder if he was thinking about how fish see us when he painted this? Each brushstroke feels deliberate, yet spontaneous. I can almost feel the texture of the canvas, the give and take of the brush as it glides across the surface. I imagine Van Rysselberghe really looking at the masters before him, like Monet, or Delacroix, and wanting to bring something new to the table. Painting, it’s all about joining a centuries-long conversation with a brush!