The Bridge in Labastide du Vert 1905

Henri Martin painted "The Bridge in Labastide du Vert" with oil on canvas, using a mosaic-like approach to colour. It's all about how he builds up the image, bit by bit. The surface is alive with texture. Look closely at how Martin renders the stone of the bridge. See the way he uses these tiny, individual strokes of paint? They're like separate thoughts coming together to form a bigger idea. The paint isn't trying to hide itself, you know? It's not trying to be smooth or invisible. He's letting the material itself be part of the story. Notice the reflection under the bridge too, it's like a distorted twin. This pointillist technique puts me in mind of Seurat, only softer, warmer. To me, a painting is always a conversation, right? Not about getting it 'right,' but about keeping it open.