Batchawana Rapid 1920

J.E.H. MacDonald must have made this painting with oils, working fast, wet-on-wet, alla prima, or however you want to say it – right there, en plein air. Check out the way he’s laid the paint on – these luscious strokes, each one defining a form, catching the light. I see a real urgency in the handling of the paint, like he’s racing against time, against the changing light. It’s like he’s wrestling with the scene, trying to pin down its fleeting beauty, its raw energy. And those reds, greens, and golds! The colour is intense and vibrant, like the landscape is on fire. I love the way he uses colour to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. It’s like he’s not just painting what he sees, but what he feels, conjuring an emotional landscape that hums with life. It puts me in mind of Van Gogh. Ultimately, art is about that conversation. What do you think?