The Castellet at Trébeurden 1939

Alexandre Benois painted “The Castellet at Trébeurden” with watercolor, a medium where the process is really on display. Look at the top of the image, where the soft blues and grays of the sky and clouds almost drip into the landscape. It’s all about the way the paint moves and settles on the paper. There’s a real delicacy to the way Benois handles the watercolors, with the light washes of color creating a sense of atmosphere. The green of the hillside is built up from many thin layers, giving a feeling of depth and texture. And notice how he lets the white of the paper peek through in places, like in the sandy beach and the sky, it creates a luminosity. Take a look at the way the artist handles the rocky outcrop at the top of the island. The sharp angles and rough texture are rendered with quick, confident strokes of the brush. It reminds me of the landscapes of Cezanne. And like Cezanne, Benois isn’t just painting what he sees, he is capturing a feeling, a moment in time. It’s about the experience of being there.