Olympic with Returned Soldiers 1919

Arthur Lismer made this painting, Olympic with Returned Soldiers, using expressive brushstrokes and a somber palette. It looks like he built up the image intuitively, layering blues, grays, and yellows to construct this vibrant dock scene. I really admire how Lismer evokes the enormity of the ship and the bustling crowd with such immediacy. He must have been surrounded by this scene, trying to capture it all. It reminds me of how Hopper, a painter from around the same time, approached painting as a process of condensing a moment into something iconic. Look at that dash of yellow—it cuts through the blues and grays, giving the work an anxious energy, like the feeling of a city. I love how one gesture can communicate so much. This piece speaks to the ongoing dialogue between artists across time, as we inspire each other to find new ways of seeing and feeling.