Boomgaard 1917 - 1919

Joseph Posenaer’s ‘Boomgaard,’ made with watercolor, is a total embrace of process, isn’t it? The earthy browns of the ground are painted in thin washes, so thin, they feel almost like stains on the paper. Against that, you have the looping, twisting, tree trunks, and branches. Posenaer coaxes life from the page with strokes that are both deliberate and kind of awkward, you know? Look closely at the trunk on the right. See how it splits into a ‘V’? It feels weighty but there’s also a looseness in the way he lets the colors blend and bleed. It reminds me a little bit of Milton Avery’s watercolors, that shared love for simple shapes, quiet colors, and a kind of homespun touch. Ultimately, both of these artists remind us that art isn’t about perfection. It’s about seeing and feeling and then just letting it all hang out on the page.