“From the Pompidou in Rain”, 2020

 

James Brown

“From the Pompidou in Rain”, 2020

Watercolour on heavy wove paper

Size: (sheet) 42 x 29.7 cm; (image borderline) 21 x 21 cm.

When this watercolour was conceived, I found myself gazing through a window high above the bustling streets surrounding the Pompidou Centre in Paris. Outside, a gentle rain fell, seamlessly blending with the dust on the glass. This interplay of elements created a patterned effect that rendered the view slightly misty and mottled, evoking a sense of dreamlike beauty.

In the distance, the iconic silhouette of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica rose majestically above Montmartre, its form shimmering through the soft veils of rain. However, this watercolour is not a precise representation of what I observed. In reality, the colours of the various buildings appeared much duller, lightly shrouded by the grey mist of the rain. Yet, amidst this subdued palette, flashes of vibrant colour emerged as light danced off the tiny droplets clinging to the windowpane, amplifying moments of brilliance.

The memory of this softly beautiful scene continued to inspire me long after I left the Pompidou Centre. Consequently, I created an oil painting that strives for a more accurate representation of the original view. While both works spring from the same experience, each captures a unique facet of the atmosphere on that rainy day in Paris.