Les Caloges, Etretat 1920

Henri Matisse made this painting, Les Caloges, Etretat, with oil on canvas, and I can just picture him setting up his easel right there on the beach, ready to capture the scene before him. Look at the way the boats are simply rendered, as dark masses, with just a few strokes to suggest their form. You can feel the salty air and the dampness of the sand. I bet he worked quickly, trying to catch the light as it shifted, the tide as it turned. You can almost feel him capturing the feeling of being right there. I'm struck by how Matisse uses color to create such a sense of atmosphere. The muted greens and blues of the sea and sky contrast with the warm browns and grays of the beach. It's a subdued palette, but it's so effective in conveying the mood of the place, the time of day. It's like he's whispering a secret about the coast of France, and inviting us to listen closely.