Segelboote Am Wannsee c. 1922

Max Liebermann dashed off ‘Segelboote Am Wannsee’ with oil on canvas, probably en plein air. Look at how he's constructed these sailboats, it's all about capturing a fleeting moment with loose, visible brushstrokes. The texture is pretty juicy in places, not quite impasto, but you can definitely see the build-up of paint, especially on those sails catching the light. The colors are muted, earthy tones – lots of browns, greens, and grays, with pops of white to suggest the sun hitting the canvas. I love the dark strokes along the boats, see how they suggest reflections in the water. The painting feels immediate and fresh, like a quick impression rather than a highly detailed study. Reminds me of some early Manet, where the subject is less important than the act of painting itself. It's like Liebermann's saying, "Here's what I saw, and here's how I painted it."