Landscape 1914

Maximilien Luce painted this landscape in 1914 with oil on canvas. The strokes of color remind me of the work of Camille Pissarro. Little dashes of muted yellow and green create a summer field that slopes down toward a cozy bay. The surface is so alive! I love how the paint is brushed on, capturing the light and air of the scene. Look how the greens and blues mix in the water, little flecks and dashes that give the impression of movement and depth. Notice how Luce used a similar technique for the leaves of the tree. It's almost as if he's capturing the essence of these forms rather than rendering them realistically. There's something really satisfying about the way Luce builds up the image through layers of color and texture, inviting us to linger and discover new details with each viewing. It is an image that feels very real.