Inland Sea, Japan 1967

Ivan Albright made "Inland Sea, Japan" in 1937, and what strikes me first is how it's all about gesture. He’s clearly working quickly, with a confidence that comes from somewhere deep inside. It feels like he’s not trying to "get it right," but instead, letting the painting happen. Look closely and you'll see the watery washes of color, blues and reds, laid down in such a way that they almost seem to float on the surface. Then there's that energetic linework, all those squiggles and dashes that define the mountains, the water, the little boat. It’s like he’s captured the essence of a place in a fleeting moment. The overall effect is one of joyful chaos, and you think, well, maybe that’s what the world feels like sometimes. It reminds me a bit of Marsden Hartley, that same kind of raw, expressive energy. But Albright brings his own twist, a kind of gritty honesty that’s hard to look away from.