The Great Things of Life-Travel 1921

Dean Cornwell created The Great Things of Life-Travel with what looks like oil paint applied in thick, confident strokes. You can tell he's not just trying to copy what he sees, but really thinking about how paint itself can create a sense of depth and atmosphere. I’m drawn to the way Cornwell uses color – these blues and oranges are fighting each other. Look at the trunk of the car, you can almost feel the weight and the worn texture of the leather straps. It’s like he's building up the image, layer by layer, letting each stroke of paint breathe and interact with the others. There's a push and pull, a kind of organized chaos, that makes the whole thing feel so alive. This piece reminds me a little of John Sloan, another artist who captured everyday life with a similar kind of warmth and humor. It's like they're both saying, "Hey, life is messy and complicated, but it's also pretty great."