Dawn, Killary Harbour 1921

Paul Henry painted ‘Dawn, Killary Harbour’ with oil on canvas, and it feels like he was really feeling his way through this scene. The whole thing is veiled in blues and greys. It’s as if the landscape is just waking up. Look at the way the paint is applied, so thin in places, almost like a wash, and then thicker, more deliberate strokes in the foreground. You can almost feel the dampness in the air, the quiet stillness before the day really begins. It's about an atmosphere, a mood, more than a literal depiction. Notice those rocks in the foreground, daubs of greens and browns that anchor the composition. They're not sharply defined, but they have a weight, a presence. It’s the kind of mark-making that invites you to slow down, to breathe in the moment. Henry reminds me a little of someone like Whistler, another artist who knew how to make colour do the talking, and create an image that lingers in your mind.