Gadular 1926

Ivan Milev made "Gadular," a painting with an earthy palette, and it feels like witnessing a memory. The surface has a slightly distressed feel, maybe like it’s been buffed down, and this makes the colours appear like faded frescoes. Look at the way he lays down the paint—thin washes, almost like watercolor, yet they carry a weight that's far from flimsy. There’s a particular spot where the musician's ochre sleeve meets the darker background, where the colors blend just a little. It's a tiny bit of magic, making the sleeve seem to both advance and recede, all at once. It’s like he's pulling the folk traditions of his native Bulgaria through some art deco filter, very specific to the early 20th century, but it also speaks to something timeless. Thinking about other artists, maybe someone like Kirchner, who was also interested in folk art, but Milev keeps it simpler, more grounded.