Bermuda Sky and Sea with Boats c. 1917

Charles Demuth made "Bermuda Sky and Sea with Boats" with watercolor, and it's all about letting the water do its thing. The marks are like little clouds or bursts, kind of dabbed and dragged, giving it this airy, dreamy feel. Look at how the colors blend – blues, pinks, purples – not trying to be precise, but more about capturing a mood. The paper itself seems to be part of the painting, peeking through. There's a lightness to it, a sense of transience. Notice the way Demuth suggests the boats, just a few strokes, and how they sit on that hazy horizon line. It’s like he’s saying, "Here’s the sea, here’s the sky, and here’s a little bit of human presence." For me, it brings to mind some of those early watercolors by someone like John Marin, who also had this knack for capturing the energy of a place with just a few, well-placed marks. It's a reminder that art doesn't always need to shout; sometimes, it can whisper.