Cutting House (NYC) c. 1948

This is J.N. Colgan’s 'Cutting House (NYC)', made with watercolour and graphite, probably some time in the late 19th century. It’s so neat and tidy. I mean, it’s a picture about architecture, but you can see the hand in its making. The paint hasn’t been overworked, it’s just been worked. I love the way the colours are applied so thinly, in layers, with so much white of the paper showing through, like a memory. There’s a real skill in this, a mastery of the medium. Look at the way the light filters in, bathing the scene in a gentle glow. The artist uses subtle shifts in tone to create depth and space, drawing us into the scene. I’m reminded of Edward Hopper, not in style but in the sense of atmosphere and mood. Both artists create a sense of quiet contemplation, inviting us to reflect on the beauty and mystery of everyday life. Art is so often about these kinds of conversations, about finding new ways of seeing and experiencing the world, and embracing the ambiguity that lies at the heart of it all.