Tatar Family 1920

Iosif Iser’s painting ‘Tatar Family’ is an undated artwork that invites us into a world of thick brushstrokes and a warm yet slightly muted color palette. It feels like Iser wasn't aiming for photorealism, but instead trying to capture the mood and atmosphere of a moment. The painting is all about the physicality of the medium. You can almost feel the texture of the paint, the way it’s layered on the canvas to create depth and shadow. Look at the way the light catches the edges of the figures, or the subtle shifts in color in the background. Take the dress of the woman leaning against the pole, which is built up of gentle, thin layers of color, where patches of pink and white create the illusion of fabric. Iser’s painting reminds me of the work of Marsden Hartley, another artist who wasn’t afraid to embrace ambiguity and let the paint speak for itself. Like a conversation between artists, Iser takes cues from the past while adding his own unique voice to the mix.