At Benetova 1906

František Drtikol made this small watercolor painting, At Benetova, and it’s all about how colors can quietly create a mood. Drtikol uses a palette of muted greens, browns, and grays, letting the landscape emerge through layers of transparent washes. Looking closely, you can see how he builds up the form of the mountain with subtle gradations of tone. The paint application is light, almost like a whisper on the paper, revealing the texture beneath. Check out how the clouds gather in the upper part of the composition, casting shadows over the land; you can almost feel the coolness of the air before a storm. This work reminds me of some early watercolors by Cézanne, where he's just trying to figure out how to use the paint and the paper to catch a fleeting moment. There’s something really satisfying about seeing an artist work through their ideas in such an open way, leaving room for us to bring our own experiences to the picture.