Off The Needles, Isle of Wight 1905

Albert Julius Olsson made this painting of the Isle of Wight using oil paint, though we don’t know exactly when. It's all about touch, really. Look at the surface, the way the strokes build up to create these rolling waves. You can imagine Olsson there, capturing the light as it dances on the water. The texture is key here. See how the paint isn't just laid on flat? It's almost sculpted, giving the sea a real sense of movement. The colors, too, they're not just blue, there's this whole symphony of greens and grays that make it feel so alive. And then there's the sky, all these soft, diffused clouds. It’s a nice contrast with the choppy sea. You can almost smell the sea air. It reminds me a bit of Whistler, that same moodiness and focus on atmosphere. It’s all about capturing a feeling, a moment in time, and letting the paint do its thing.