Stiller Tag am Meer III 1929

Lyonel Feininger made this small oil painting called "Stiller Tag am Meer III," or "Quiet Day at Sea III," with angular and geometric strokes, a kind of soft-edged cubism. I imagine him squinting at the light on the water, trying to distill it down to its essence, that sensation of a bright, still moment. He's got this lovely palette of blues, yellows, and reds, but it's how they blend and overlap that gets me. The sails of the boats aren't solid forms, but more like transparent shards, catching the light and reflecting it back in unexpected ways. You can see a white sail towards the left with touches of ochre and hints of red sail towards the right. Feininger's work always makes me think about the conversations artists have across time. He was clearly looking at Cubism, but he's also doing something very personal, trying to capture a feeling, an atmosphere, and an idea. And here we are, years later, still looking, still trying to figure it out, and feeling that same sense of calm and wonder.