Couch on the Porch, Cos Cob by Childe Hassam (1914)

 

Another favourite painting of mine, this one takes me back to summer holidays in my parents’ house, curled up with books and completely lost in their worlds.

Couch on the Porch, Cos Cob is a quietly luminous work associated with the Cos Cob art colony in Greenwich, Connecticut, a community that flourished at the turn of the twentieth century. Painted by Childe Hassam, one of the leading American Impressionists, it captures a moment of domestic ease: a simple porch softened by warm light, a comfortable couch, and the gentle interplay of sun and shadow drifting across wooden boards. Hassam was known for translating everyday American settings into scenes of shimmering colour and atmosphere, and this piece is no exception. It reflects the leisurely rhythm of summer days in Cos Cob, where artists gathered to paint and explore new ways of depicting light, texture, and the feeling of lived-in spaces.

Couch on the Porch, Cos Cob by Childe Hassam (1914)

Thursday, 4 December 2025

Chrysanthemums in the Garden at Petit-Gennevilliers (1893) by Gustave Caillebotte

Another favourite painting. Chrysanthemums in the Garden at Petit-Gennevilliers (1893) by Gustave Caillebotte captures the artist’s own garden at his home near Paris, where he spent his later years painting nature with the same precision and sensitivity he once brought to city life. This oil on canvas shows a dense, vibrant display of chrysanthemums—flowers that were fashionable in late 19th-century France and admired for their exotic beauty. Caillebotte’s close-up composition and luminous brushwork immerse the viewer in color and light, reflecting both Impressionist influence and his personal fascination with cultivated beauty. The painting now belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Chrysanthemums in the Garden at Petit-Gennevilliers (1893) by Gustave Caillebotte

Monday, 10 November 2025

A Light in the Dark

Divine Flame by S. L. Haldankar has long been one of my favourite paintings. There’s such quiet beauty in its simplicity — a woman holding a small oil lamp, her face softly illuminated by its golden glow. Painted in a delicate realist style, it feels both lifelike and spiritual, as though the light itself holds a kind of calm reverence. Nothing feels overdone or staged; it’s just a moment of stillness, perfectly captured. I love how Haldankar manages to turn something so ordinary into something deeply serene and graceful — it’s a reminder that beauty often lives in the simplest of things.

Haldankar painted Divine Flame around 1908–1910, reportedly using his daughter, Gita, as the model. The work, created during Diwali, captures the warm intimacy of the festival’s light. Today, it’s housed in the Jaganmohan Palace Art Gallery in Mysore,India.

A Light in the Dark

Thursday, 30 October 2025

Quiet life with Petunien (1885) by Paul Cézanne

 Another favourite paiting.



'Quiet life with Petunien' is a serene painting created by the French Post-Impressionist artist Paul Cézanne. Cézanne, born in 1839 and active until 1906, is renowned for his distinctive style and his significant contributions to the development of modern art.


Completed in 1885, this painting exemplifies Cézanne's ability to imbue ordinary subjects with a sense of tranquility and contemplation.In this painting Cézanne presents a scene of domesticity, featuring a vase of petunias placed on a table. The subdued palette and understated composition contribute to the overall sense of calmness and introspection.


Cézanne's meticulous brushwork and attention to detail are evident in the careful depiction of the flowers and the surrounding space. Each petunia is rendered with precision, capturing the delicate textures and nuances of colour.


The title 'Quiet life with Petunien' suggests a moment of peaceful solitude, inviting viewers to pause and reflect on the beauty of the everyday. Cézanne's handling of light and shadow adds depth and dimension to the composition, enhancing the sense of quietude and serenity.


Through his exploration of the still life genre, Cézanne invites viewers to find solace and beauty in the ordinary, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the world around us.

Quiet life with Petunien (1885) by Paul Cézanne

Friday, 24 October 2025

Wild Flowers by Pierre Bonnard (1919)

 

Another favourite painting. "Wild Flowers" is a painting created around 1919 by the French artist Pierre Bonnard. Bonnard was associated with the Post-Impressionist movement and was known for his use of vibrant colours and intimate, domestic scenes. In "Wild Flowers," Bonnard captures a moment of everyday beauty, depicting a vase filled with a vibrant arrangement of wildflowers. The painting showcases Bonnard's skillful use of light and colour to create a sense of warmth and vitality. Bonnard often painted scenes from his own life, and "Wild Flowers" is believed to be a reflection of his love for nature and his surroundings.

Wild Flowers by Pierre Bonnard (1919)

Wednesday, 8 October 2025

The Artist’s Garden at Eragny (1898)

I love art that depicts beautiful gardens and gives you that feeling of actually being there. One of my favourite impressionist paintings captures this so beautifully. I must admit, I’m not always drawn to certain strands of “modern art” — they can sometimes feel a bit try-hard or even pretentious. What I love instead is art that doesn’t need to explain itself, but simply speaks through its beauty.

In that sense, I feel a little like William Morris, who famously said: “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” For me, art should make you fall in love every time you see it. From time to time, I’ll share paintings here that “speak to me” in that way.

One painting that captures this perfectly is Camille Pissarro’s The Artist’s Garden at Eragny (1898).

Situated in the small village of Eragny in northern France, where Pissarro lived from 1884 until his death, the painting depicts a lush, sun-dappled garden alive with flowers and foliage. With his characteristic short, broken brushstrokes, he conveys the vibrant hues of the garden while softening the background with muted tones, so the whole scene seems to shimmer with life.

There’s also a gentle narrative woven into the picture: a woman — thought to be Pissarro’s wife, Juliette — is shown tending the garden. Her presence lends a touch of intimacy, suggesting the quiet rhythm of domestic life rooted in nature.

For me, The Artist’s Garden at Eragny is more than just a pretty garden scene. It’s a testament to Pissarro’s mastery of light and colour, his gift for capturing fleeting moments, and his deep connection to the natural world. It’s exactly the kind of painting I could fall in love with again and again.

The Artist’s Garden at Eragny (1898)

Wednesday, 3 September 2025