Ice on the Oise River 1914

Gustave Loiseau made this painting of Ice on the Oise River with oil on canvas, and it’s all about how he put the paint down. You can feel the process, it’s not trying to be too smooth or slick. I love how the paint is dabbed on, especially in the trees, sort of like musical notes making a song. The way he builds up those layers, it’s like he’s feeling his way through the scene. Look how the reflections in the water are almost more solid than the trees themselves. There’s a push and pull between what’s real and what’s reflected, and that’s where the magic happens. It's like a dance between the solid world and its watery ghost. Loiseau reminds me a bit of Camille Pissarro, another painter who wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty with the paint. Both of them show us that painting isn’t just about copying what you see, it’s about creating a whole new way of seeing in the first place.