Willows in Fog 1915

Gustave Loiseau made this painting of willows in fog with short, choppy brushstrokes, kind of like he’s knitting the scene together. You can almost feel the chill in the air. Looking closely, the way he builds up the layers of paint, it's all about texture. It's not just the colors, which are muted, hazy purples and grays, but the physical feel of the paint. The thickness gives the trees weight, making them stand out from the background. I wonder if he used a palette knife at times? There are parts where it looks like he’s dragged the paint to give the impression of movement. See that cluster of trees on the right? The way the light catches them makes them seem almost ghostly. Loiseau reminds me of Morisot in the way that they both use the surface of the painting to capture a fleeting moment. They see art as a conversation rather than a statement, and I love that.