Trees c. 1912 - 1914

This is a painting called 'Trees' by Henry Lyman Saÿen, and it’s a really cool, kind of raw and joyful way to approach a landscape. I think Saÿen is really interested in how the colours can describe a feeling, like happiness, or a sense of place. Look at how he handles the paint, it’s really physical, with short, visible brushstrokes and thick layers of colour that almost feel sculptural. The buttery yellow of the trees really pops, doesn’t it? I'm drawn to the way he’s built up the forms with these dabs and dashes, it’s like he’s not trying to fool us into thinking we’re really there, but instead wants us to feel the energy of the place, the texture of the bark, the way the light filters through the leaves. It’s about making something new, not copying what’s already there. Saÿen’s work shares an interest in bold colour and simplified forms with artists like Matisse, who was also obsessed with capturing the emotional essence of a scene.