Veslez 1906

Gustave Loiseau made 'Veslez' with oil on canvas; its exact date remains a mystery. Looking closely, you can see how Loiseau builds up the scene through many small touches of color, like he’s knitting the image together. It's the kind of painting that makes you want to reach out and feel the texture. There’s a dialogue between the creamy, almost pastel shades of the house, and the bright, lively greens and yellows of the vegetation in the foreground. Take a look at the lower right-hand corner. Notice the almost frantic energy of the marks, how they seem to vibrate with life? The way he captures light and shadow in this small area is incredible and shows what he is doing across the canvas as a whole. Loiseau often painted landscapes, and while the scenes themselves are quiet and unassuming, his technique is all about capturing the vibrancy of the natural world. He reminds me a little of Pissarro in his focus on everyday scenes and his impressionistic touch. Art is like a big conversation, isn't it?