Gray Day on the Lagoon (A Passenger Boat — Venice) 1913

William Merritt Chase made this painting of Venice, called "Gray Day on the Lagoon" with oil on canvas. I love how the strokes of paint build up the scene, especially in the sky where the brushwork is really visible and kind of drags the eye horizontally. It’s all about the process; each stroke feels like a decision, a little adventure of color and texture. The paint is applied thinly in some areas, letting the canvas breathe, and then built up in others, like around the boats, creating a tangible surface. Look at the way Chase uses light and shadow on the water. It's a scumble, almost like he's dragging the brush to suggest movement and depth. That single dab of red, just off-center, it’s like a tiny explosion of energy that pulls the whole thing together. It kinda reminds me of Whistler, that interest in mood and atmosphere. But Chase has got his own thing going on; it’s a bit more direct, maybe a little more raw. It shows that art is always a conversation, an echo of what’s come before, but with its own unique voice.