Bateaux de pêche 1963

Benito Quinquela Martin made this painting of fishing boats with what looks like thick, juicy oil paint. I love imagining him, out there, maybe in the sun, smearing the canvas with strokes of greens, blues, and oranges. The paint is so thick, it's like he's building the boats right there on the canvas! See how the colors kinda vibrate against each other? It’s almost like the boats are breathing. I can almost feel the push and pull of the water. You know, painting like this, it's not just about copying what you see. It's about feeling it, internalizing it, and then letting it all out through your hands. There’s a raw energy here, a real connection to the subject. Artists like Martin remind us that painting is a conversation, across time and space. It’s about seeing what others have done and then answering back with your own voice.