View over Grimand 1920

Henri Manguin made this painting, View over Grimand, with oil on canvas, and right away I notice how he’s laying down these bright, almost arbitrary colours. Check out how Manguin uses colour to make the landscape really sing, even though it's not always 'realistic', like those almost purple tree trunks! It reminds me how colour in a painting doesn't just describe something, it also creates a feeling. The paint is applied in these soft strokes that blend just enough to suggest form without getting too fussy. If you look closely at the leaves, each dab of colour feels like a little discovery. The way the light catches the building on the left, in contrast to the flat plane of the sea in the distance is so masterful. Manguin's loose, colourful approach makes me think of Bonnard, another artist who knew how to make everyday scenes feel magical. What I love about painting is how it keeps changing, keeps the conversation going across years and between artists.