Canal at Moret 1910

Gustave Loiseau made this painting of the Canal at Moret with oil paint, it's a lovely scene! What immediately grabs me is the way he's built up the image with these tiny, dab-like strokes. It's like he's not just painting what he sees, but how he sees, filtering the scene through a process of mark-making. The palette's muted, earthy. Look closely, and you'll see how the surface shimmers with subtle variations. The reflections in the water are especially nice. There's a real physicality to the paint, you can almost feel the brushstrokes, each one a tiny decision. It’s not about hiding the process, but embracing it. See that little patch of green, just above the canal? The way it sits so confidently on the surface, it’s like a little burst of energy that animates the whole scene. For me it's so reminiscent of paintings by Camille Pissarro. Ultimately, painting is an ongoing conversation. Each brushstroke echoes the past and anticipates the future.