The Look at Montauban in rain 1922

Paul Signac made this watercolor drawing of Montauban, probably on site, capturing a fleeting moment of rain with loose, expressive marks. I imagine him quickly trying to capture the scene as the rain drizzles, each stroke and dab reflecting his immediate experience of the place. There's this interesting mix of precision and spontaneity. Signac, who was so inspired by Pointilism, is making these deliberate marks and dots of color, but they all seem to dance on the surface. I love how the colors are both muted and vibrant, evoking the atmosphere of a rainy day while still capturing the beauty of the architecture. The sketchiness of the drawing gives it a real sense of life and movement. The architectural details of Montauban emerge through the veil of rain, like a memory or a dream. I keep thinking, what was he thinking as he stood there? I feel like Signac is saying, "Even in the rain, there's beauty to be found; it is all about how you look at it." And I have to agree. Signac's work continues to inspire me to find new ways of seeing the world, one brushstroke at a time.