A War Memorial 1918

John Singer Sargent made this watercolor painting, called A War Memorial. Looking at the washes, the overall feel is fluid, like capturing a fleeting moment. You see a memorial, tucked under trees, with a red flag, all softened by light and shadow. The colors are translucent, blues and greens, soft browns. Sargent seems to let the watercolor do its thing. There's a sense of looseness. Check out how the red flags aren't solid, but are implied. They aren't completely filled-in shapes; they just communicate the *idea* of a flag. It’s less about perfect representation, more about feeling the place. This reminds me of some of the watercolorists, like Emil Nolde. They share this interest in capturing an impression, and understanding art as an ongoing process of looking. There's no right answer, just different ways of seeing.