A Boat Sailing in the Bay 1935

Maggie Laubser made this watercolor painting, "A Boat Sailing in the Bay," with loose, flowing lines, seemingly without hesitation, and a palette of muted blues, greens, and oranges, all of which suggests a real joy in the act of painting. Laubser's choice of watercolor lends itself to capturing the transient beauty of the bay. She lets the pigment flow, allowing the white of the paper to peek through, creating a luminous effect. Notice how the washes of blue define the water, each stroke a dance between control and chance. There's a patch of green in the foreground, scribbled and free, feeling very immediate and full of life, as if Laubser was trying to catch the way the light flickers on the leaves. Laubser's work has a playful quality that reminds me of Joan Miró. It's like she's inviting us to join in the fun, to see the world with fresh eyes.