Le Rocher (la Naïade, Cavalière) 1906

Henri Manguin daubed and brushed oil onto canvas to make this scene called "Le Rocher (la Naïade, Cavalière)". The rocks are kind of purple and the water is a cool green. I like how the brushstrokes feel kind of broken up. It's like Manguin was there, trying to catch the light flickering on the water. I can almost feel the sun on my skin looking at it. You know, when I'm painting, I'm never quite sure where I'm going, either. It's like the painting itself is asking me questions, and I'm trying to answer them with color and form. Manguin must have felt something similar when he painted those rocks. What if they're not just rocks but also these big, solid feelings? And the woman, so relaxed, is she listening to them? Painters are always chatting to one another over time. Manguin’s conversation here feels very intimate and gentle. His sensitivity is clear, and like him, we can dive into the unknown.