Escutcheon of Charles V of Spain 1912

John Singer Sargent gave us "Escutcheon of Charles V of Spain" in watercolor, and the way he handled the watery paint makes me feel like I'm standing right there, squinting in the Spanish sun. I can imagine him, squinting, brush in hand, trying to capture the way the light hits the stone. It's all about these subtle washes, the way the pigment pools and dries, creating these soft, luminous shadows. Look at the top corners, where the colours are just starting to drip. They're like ghosts of hues, fading into the atmosphere. The overall effect is ethereal. You almost forget it's a solid, carved object, and instead, you feel like you're seeing a dream of a sculpture. I think artists are always talking to each other, across time, using the language of mark-making to share their vision.