Woman in bed (Sleeping girl) 1922

Walter Gramatté painted this “Woman in Bed” in watercolor, and what strikes me is how he's used the medium to convey not just an image, but a feeling, an atmosphere. See how the colors bleed and blend? The blues and greens of the bedclothes kind of melt into the white of the pillow, and then into the skin tones. There’s a real softness there, a dreamy quality. And look at how he handles the light – it’s not so much about describing a light source as it is about creating an overall luminosity. It's like memory, where edges blur and details fade. The way Gramatté layers the washes, building up the colors in thin, transparent veils reminds me of Emil Nolde. Both artists share an emotional intensity and a willingness to embrace the unpredictable nature of watercolor. This piece isn’t about capturing a likeness; it’s about capturing a mood, an emotion, a fleeting moment of peace or introspection. That’s something I can relate to.