Dans La Rue, Paris 1929

Archibald Motley’s "Dans La Rue, Paris" is a painting that feels like it was built, block by block, in layers of careful observation. Look at the cobblestones that make up the road, each one distinct and textured. I can almost hear the clatter of the early motorcars going over them. Motley has used the medium of oil paint to really embrace the physicality of the scene, to make the viewer feel the presence of Paris. The colors are muted, almost dreamlike, creating a sense of being transported back in time. There's a real push and pull between the formal and the representational here, which reminds me of someone like Stuart Davis. However, Motley has more of a direct focus on the human element, which is what makes his work so engaging. He’s inviting us to linger, to become part of the street scene.