Studie zu ‘Sonnenuntergang am Meer’ 1910

Franz von Stuck created this sketch for ‘Sunset at Sea’ with oil on cardboard, and I can see his process right there on the surface. The marks are so intuitive, especially how he uses the colour. Take the waves – these broad strokes of blues and yellows. Are they a formal device to show depth or do they represent the meeting of sea and sand? Maybe both. The paint application isn’t overworked, yet it has depth, like a memory. I get the sense he wasn’t aiming for realism here, but trying to capture a feeling of the moment. The drama in the sky with that great splodge of bright orange is really evocative. It reminds me a little of late Turner, where the subject becomes an excuse for exploring mood. Like, what does it feel like to stand and watch the sunset? Ultimately, the beauty of painting is that it leaves things open for interpretation. You can bring your own experience and feelings into the mix.