Corfu: Lights and Shadows 1909

John Singer Sargent made this watercolour, Corfu: Lights and Shadows, in an unknown year. It’s all about immediacy and intuition, something I can relate to! I love how he lays down these pale washes, letting the white of the paper do so much work. The building is all planes of light, he uses a blueish colour to create a cool tone. Look at how the shadows of the leaves play across the front of the building. See the shadow that falls just above the door? It reminds me of those shapes you see when you close your eyes really tight, like something shimmering just beyond perception. Think of artists like Fairfield Porter, who was also interested in the possibilities of the everyday scene. At its heart, art is an ongoing conversation. One that stays open to new interpretations and experiences.