Portrait of a woman 1915

Ottmar Begas made this watercolor painting, it looks like somewhere in Europe, maybe Russia, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. You know, looking at this piece, I'm reminded that sometimes the most exciting thing about art is the way it lets you make a mark. The paint here is so thin it’s almost like a wash, which gives everything a sense of distance and atmosphere. The colours are muted – lots of greys and whites, and it really captures that feeling of a cold, overcast day. Look at the way the artist has rendered the snow. It’s not just white, it’s got blues and greys mixed in. See how the brushstrokes follow the contours of the landscape, creating a sense of depth and movement. In some ways, it reminds me of the landscapes of 18th century watercolourist John Robert Cozens, the way he can make the medium sing to convey a feeling for weather, and place. Ultimately it's the ambiguity that resonates, the painting is what you make of it!