Quay at Dieppe 1905

Gustave Loiseau made this painting of a quay at Dieppe with oil paint on canvas, and you can see how he's thinking about the process of painting itself. Look at the sky: the brushstrokes are short, choppy, and broken, giving the impression of constant movement and light playing across the surface. It’s like he’s trying to capture a fleeting moment, a feeling, rather than a literal depiction of the scene. Now, check out the lower-right corner, along the riverbank. There's a build-up of impasto, where Loiseau has layered the paint thickly, creating a tangible texture. It's almost as if he’s sculpting the landscape with his brush! This physicality of the paint makes you feel like you could reach out and touch the rough, grassy edge of the quay. It reminds me a bit of Monet, but with a slightly earthier, more grounded feel. Ultimately, it’s this combination of meticulous observation and playful experimentation that makes this painting so captivating, inviting us to contemplate the many ways of seeing and experiencing the world.