Zeus and Io 1972

Frank Mason made this painting, Zeus and Io, with oil paint, though it feels like a memory fading. The brushstrokes here are like whispers, soft and blurred, creating a hazy, dreamlike atmosphere. The painting has this incredible sense of movement, a real push and pull. The colors are muted – mostly whites, grays, and browns, but there are touches of blues and yellows, particularly at the bottom. The texture feels velvety, almost like it was built up in layers and then rubbed back. Look at Io's outstretched arm, reaching into the smoky atmosphere, you can almost feel the chill of the air and her desire to escape. The way Mason handles paint reminds me of Corot or even Turner, these artists had a similar interest in light and atmosphere. Art is always in conversation, isn't it? Each painter building on the past, finding their own way to express the inexpressible. There is no one true story in painting, just endless interpretations.