May Afternoon 1920

Willard Metcalf conjured this landscape, "May Afternoon," with oil on canvas; each dab of paint seems like a tiny meditation. The color palette, soft greens and blues, feels like a whispered hello to spring. Looking closely, you can almost feel the texture of the grass. The brushstrokes are visible, not hidden. It’s as if Metcalf wants us to see his process. He’s not trying to trick us into thinking this is reality, but sharing how he experiences a particular space at a particular moment. Notice the road winding up the hill: it’s made of shadow, like time itself. This piece reminds me of Corot, another painter who loved to capture the quiet beauty of the landscape. Ultimately, art is about conversation, and Metcalf is just adding his voice to the chorus. The picture doesn’t have to mean one specific thing. It’s there for us to wander through.