Brooklyn Bridge 1920

Ernest Lawson’s painting of the Brooklyn Bridge is this dreamy, hazy vision in oil paint. Look at the way he builds up the surface. It’s like he’s wrestling with the paint, but in a gentle way, you know? The colors, mostly greens and browns, are all muted. There is this gorgeous, subtle glow of light coming from somewhere, and it makes the whole thing feel like a memory. Lawson's working with texture, letting the paint sit on the surface. It’s not about hiding the process; it's about showing it off. There’s a part on the right side, near the base of the bridge’s support, where you can see how he layered the paint, building up this crusty, almost sculptural form. It makes me think of other painters who were also wrestling with similar stuff, like George Bellows, finding beauty in the everyday, gritty urban landscape. Lawson’s painting isn’t trying to give you all the answers. It’s more like an invitation to get lost in the questions.