Corridor of Summer c. 1910

Arthur Bowen Davies made this dreamlike painting, Corridor of Summer, with oils, and it's so much about how he puts down paint. The colours are dusky, like a memory, and the forms are soft around the edges. He's not trying to show you exactly what's there, but how it feels to be there. Look closely at the figure reclining. The paint is thin and washy in places, and thicker in others, especially around the face, where we can see his brushstrokes. It's like he's searching for the form, not just copying it. This is about the process of painting, the thinking and feeling that happens while the artist is working. Davies reminds me of Odilon Redon who explored similar symbolist themes. Ultimately, this painting isn't about one single idea. It's an invitation to wander, to let your mind drift, and to find your own meaning in this beautiful, mysterious world.