Duinlandschap bij storm met twee figuren 1872 - 1944

Frans Smissaert made this watercolor on paper called "Duinlandschap bij storm met twee figuren," or "Dune landscape in a storm with two figures." Look at those broad washes of blue, grey, and white. It's almost like a Rothko, only outside. You can feel the cool breeze and smell the moist earth just by looking at the sky, right? And down below, see how the green and brown hues blend together, giving the impression of a windswept, grassy dune? I can imagine Smissaert standing there, squinting into the wind, dabbing at the paper with his brush, trying to capture the feeling of the storm. I wonder if he struggled with the two figures, those dark smudges on the horizon. Were they an afterthought? Or were they essential to conveying the feeling of solitude and insignificance in the face of nature’s awesome power? Anyway, I love how painters build on each other’s work across time, inspiring each other to see the world in new ways.