The Balustrade 1913

Roderic O’Conor made *The Balustrade* with oil on canvas and a vibrant palette. You can almost feel the painting coming into being, stroke by stroke, color chasing color, as it shifted from what he thought he saw to what he felt. I can imagine O’Conor standing there, brush in hand, trying to capture the light. He’s thinking about how to translate the scene before him – the balustrade, the trees, the buildings – into something tangible, something real. The paint isn't too thick, not too thin, but just right, almost like he’s searching for the perfect consistency to match his mood. Look at the balustrade, how the pink and purple hues blend, creating a sense of depth, almost like it's vibrating with energy. I'm thinking of other artists like Bonnard. It feels like a conversation, artists speaking to each other across time, inspiring each other to see the world in new ways. Each stroke is infused with the artist's intent, embracing ambiguity and inviting multiple interpretations. It’s a space where feeling and observation merge, where the act of painting becomes a way of understanding the world.