S. Girolamo 1919

Julius Bissier made this painting of St. Jerome, with what appears to be oil on canvas. It's a landscape painted with a brown, tan, and beige palette that feels like a sepia photograph. Look at how Bissier layers the paint, almost like glazing, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. The texture isn't overly worked; it’s smooth, allowing the forms to emerge subtly. There's a gentleness to the way the landscape is rendered, a softness that invites you into the scene. Notice the way the light filters through the trees, dappling the ground. Bissier uses these soft, diffused marks to create a sense of space and air. The way the landscape fades into the distance gives a feeling of the sublime, like the mountains go on forever. It's a very different kind of painting. Bissier’s work reminds me of Albert Pinkham Ryder, who, like Bissier, painted landscapes with a kind of dreamlike quality. They both had a knack for creating works that feel timeless and mysterious. Ultimately, this piece reminds us that art is about exploration and the joy of seeing.