Fiori (Flowers) 1994

Giancarlo Tognoni made this watercolour painting, “Fiori”, sometime in the 20th Century, and straight away I am struck by how the translucence of watercolour becomes a way of seeing. It's all about washes and bleeds. The painting feels provisional, a sketch in the best sense. The artist seems to be thinking through the medium. The colours are fluid, light blues, greens and yellows, creating a sense of lightness and air. Look at how the washes of colour overlap and blend, creating new hues and tones. The texture is smooth, with the paper surface visible beneath the transparent layers of paint. The dark blue mark at the top of the painting, is it a leaf or just an abstract shape? It doesn't really matter, because it creates a sense of depth and mystery, inviting us to look closer and to wonder. I’m reminded of Raoul Dufy, who was also interested in the potential of watercolour. Both artists suggest that art is a conversation, a process of exchange.