Broadway, Singer Building 1912

John Marin made this watercolour, Broadway, Singer Building, at some point in his career, and it’s all about capturing a fleeting impression. He's using these watery washes to suggest the scale and energy of the city. It's like he's trying to catch a feeling more than a picture. Look at how he layers the colours. It's all thin washes, one over the other, so light feels like it's moving through the buildings and the sky. There's a sense of constant change, like the city itself is never still. Notice the way the brushstrokes are so loose and free. This approach reminds me of how Turner would tackle similar subjects, but Marin puts his own distinctively American spin on it. It's less about perfect representation and more about expressing the sheer vitality of modern life. It shows you how art is always in conversation, always building on what came before.