The Quai, Lannion 1910

Childe Hassam captured this scene, The Quai, Lannion, with watercolors, a dance of pigment and paper. Imagine Hassam standing there, brush in hand, squinting at the buildings. It’s not about copying; it's about feeling. I bet he mixed those blues and greens on the spot, trying to catch the exact shade of the rooftops. He’s working fast, trying to pin down what’s in front of him, that tower emerging from the houses. Notice how the paint isn't overworked, just light washes of colour. It’s funny, you know, how a simple splash of colour can suggest so much—a whole town. I wonder if Hassam thought about Turner, those light filled skies and buildings, when he made this? Or maybe he was just trying to keep up with the light, as the day moved. We’re all in conversation, right? Each painting a response to what came before, and a question for what comes next. It’s never really finished, just passed on.