Meisje 1938

Constant Permeke made this oil painting of a girl sometime in the early to mid twentieth century. The way the paint is applied gives the impression that it was made quickly, without too much fiddling. You can see the movement of the brushstrokes, and the way the colors blend and merge, it’s almost like you are watching the painting come into being. Look closely, and you will see how Permeke has built up the surface with thick layers of paint, especially around the face and hair. It's like he’s sculpting with color, using browns, grays, and earthy tones to create a sense of depth. Notice the way the light catches the ridges and valleys of the impasto, giving the surface a tactile quality. The dark vertical brushstrokes at the bottom of the image give the impression of the girl as weighed down, oppressed by her surroundings. Permeke's work reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker, they both use a similar earthy palette. Ultimately, the beauty of this piece lies in its ambiguity and openness to interpretation, embracing the multiple possibilities of meaning.