India, Temples No.1 (Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Tiruchirapalli) 1954

William Congdon created this painting, *India, Temples No.1*, most likely with oils, and its all about the surface. I love how Congdon just lets the paint sit there, thick and crusty, especially in that foreground area. It's like he's not trying to hide anything. You can see every stroke, every decision. And then, bam! Those temples rise up with scribbled gold light. They feel solid but also kind of… ghost-like, you know? That scribbled detail against the heavy texture everywhere else is so great. It’s like a map of a feeling, all these little lines trying to capture something fleeting. It reminds me of Cy Twombly, who was also obsessed with the poetics of the fragment. Both artists show you that art can be about searching, not just finding. It’s an openness that invites you in, makes you feel like you’re part of the process.