June Sunlight 1902

Joseph DeCamp made this painting, June Sunlight, with oil on canvas. The painting captures a scene bathed in the soft, diffused light of a summer's day. I can imagine DeCamp standing before the canvas, squinting slightly as he mixes his colors. He starts with broad strokes, laying in the foundation of light and shadow, building up the figures with delicate, almost imperceptible touches. This painting reminds me of a Whistler, a Sargent, or even a Manet, with its deft handling of paint and its focus on capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. The brushstrokes seem to dance across the surface. The colors shimmer and blend with a gentle fluidity, a delicate dance between representation and abstraction. The way the light filters through the trees and dapples the woman’s dress…it's like he’s trying to capture not just what he sees, but what it feels like to be there, in that moment. It feels good! And painting is like that – an ongoing exchange between artists across time.