Rio della Maddalena 1908

Julius Leblanc Stewart painted ‘Rio della Maddalena’ with oils, capturing a glimpse of Venice. The tones are muted, almost sepia-like, creating a kind of hazy, romantic effect. It's like looking at a memory. The materiality here is all about capturing light, especially how it dances on the water. You can almost feel the humidity. Notice how Stewart uses these broken brushstrokes, particularly in the reflections, to suggest movement. It's not about precise detail; it’s about feeling. There’s a certain looseness that gives the painting life. It’s not tight or fussy, it's like he’s inviting us to fill in the blanks. Stewart’s impressionistic style calls to mind painters like Whistler, who were also obsessed with capturing fleeting moments and atmospheric effects. It all makes me think about how artists are always in conversation, borrowing and riffing off each other, trying to capture something that’s ultimately un-capturable.