Moret, Route of Pres 1903

Francis Picabia painted 'Moret, Route of Pres', likely in the early 20th century, using oils on canvas. I can almost see him there, outside, working at speed, capturing a sense of place. The palette is muted—greens and browns, with touches of blue and red, it feels like a cloudy day. The paint is thickly applied, giving the scene a tangible, almost sculptural quality. You get the feeling of the artist's hand moving across the canvas, laying down marks, one after the other. The road itself is built from chunky strokes of light brown that suggest texture and movement. I wonder if he knew the Impressionists? This landscape certainly speaks to their interest in light, color, and the everyday. But, unlike Monet's hazy impressions, Picabia's scene has a rawness, an immediacy that feels very modern. It's like he's saying, “Here, this is what I see, right now, in this moment.”