Hudson River at Peekskill 1912

John Marin created "Hudson River at Peekskill" using watercolor on paper, presenting us with an image where washes of color meet spontaneous lines. The composition captures a scene where the sky and water merge in soft hues of blues, pinks, and yellows, evoking a sense of tranquility. Marin's approach to the landscape is far from traditional. The forms are simplified, almost abstracted, challenging our perception of space and depth. Notice how the brushstrokes are visible, revealing the process of creation. This emphasis on the materiality of the medium aligns with modernist concerns of truth to materials, where the artwork's essence lies in its construction and the inherent qualities of its components. Through this work, Marin engages with the act of seeing, inviting us to reconsider how we interpret and represent the world around us. His work is not just a depiction, but an exploration of the possibilities inherent in abstraction and the materiality of paint itself.