Thunderstormy Sky 1932

Cuno Amiet’s "Thunderstormy Sky" is a blast of feeling rendered with thick brushstrokes of blues and greens. I imagine Amiet outside with his easel, wrestling with the elements, trying to capture the fleeting light. Look at the sky: it’s not just blue, it’s a swirl of blues, a churn of atmosphere. And those yellow dabs, are they leaves, or raindrops catching the light? I feel the pressure of the storm, the air thick with anticipation. There’s a tension between representation and abstraction here. He’s not just copying what he sees, but using paint to convey a feeling, an experience. Amiet’s mark-making reminds me of Van Gogh, that same urgency, that need to get something down, now! He's speaking the language of paint. Each gesture is full of life. Ultimately, painting is a conversation, a dialogue across time. Painters like Amiet lay down marks and ideas, and we, in turn, respond, adding our own voices to the mix.