Notre Dame, the Effect of Sunlight 1906

Francis Picabia painted Notre Dame, the Effect of Sunlight, with oil on canvas, and while we don't have the exact date, it captures an impressionistic moment in time. The colours are applied in little dabs and strokes, like he’s trying to catch the light as it bounces off the stone. It’s all about how the light transforms the solid, heavy architecture into something almost shimmering. Up close, you can see how Picabia uses these thick, juicy strokes of paint. Look at the way he builds up the surface. You can almost feel the roughness of the stone, but then he softens it with these delicate, pastel shades. Notice the violet shadows in the stonework. It’s these moments that lift the whole painting, giving it that feeling of light and air. It reminds me a little of Monet's Rouen Cathedral series, but with a more personal touch. The beauty of painting, as Picabia knew, lies in its ability to be both solid and ephemeral, permanent and constantly changing, a dialogue that keeps evolving with each brushstroke.