Dans le Midi 1910

Armand Guillaumin made this painting, Dans le Midi, with oil paint on canvas. The way he lays down the paint, its dabs of colour sitting next to each other, feels like a process of translation, capturing a sense of place through colour. Looking closely, the ground becomes a mosaic of warm reds and oranges, reflecting and contrasting with the cool blues of the sea and sky. I am drawn to the singular stroke of blue that makes up the pine tree trunk. It doesn't blend or fade; it just is. It reminds me that painting isn’t about perfect replication, but about bold choices. Like with Van Gogh, Guillaumin is unafraid to let his colours sing. Ultimately it is the materiality of the paint itself, its texture, and the visible brushstrokes that capture the feeling of being there in the landscape. It reminds us that art is a conversation, with each artist offering their unique perspective.