The Moon and the Poet 2003

Stefan Caltia made this painting, "The Moon and the Poet," and there's a dreamy, otherworldly quality to it. The way the colors are applied feels very intuitive, almost like a folk tale rendered in paint. I'm really drawn to how Caltia handles the paint; it’s not about perfection but more about capturing a feeling. The greens in the trees are deep and lush, contrasting with the pale, almost ghostly figure of the poet. Look at that poet standing on a bubble! I love how the bubble is rendered, so fragile. And then there are these soft, muted clouds in the sky; they look like thoughts drifting by. This piece reminds me a bit of Chagall, with its whimsical, symbolic imagery. But Caltia brings his own unique sensibility, a kind of quiet magic. Art is all about these echoes and conversations across time, where artists borrow, reinvent, and create something new. It’s never about one fixed meaning but about opening up possibilities.