Valley of the Gipping, Suffolk 1913

Frederick George Cotman made this painting of the Valley of the Gipping in Suffolk with oil on canvas, the date is unknown. The colours feel muted and natural, and are applied in a way that suggests the scene was built up gradually, layer by layer, rather than as one single gesture. Looking at the paint itself, you can see a lot of variation in texture. Some parts are smooth and blended, while others have visible brushstrokes, especially in the foreground. I love how he captures the light filtering through the trees on the right; notice how he uses dabs of brighter colour to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The composition feels traditional, but there's something very real about the way he's handled the paint. Cotman’s art reminds me a bit of Corot, maybe, in the way he balances observation with an almost dreamlike quality, but Cotman has his own way of seeing and feeling the landscape. These artists show us how the act of painting can be a conversation, a way of thinking through colour and form to find new ways of seeing.