Espaço Goa 1994

Julio Resende made this pastel drawing, Espaço Goa, using soft strokes and a warm, muted palette. I imagine Resende, standing at his easel, layering yellows, oranges, pinks and blues, building up a sense of hazy light. The marks are smudgy and soft, like memory itself. You know? He's capturing a moment, a feeling, more than a photographic likeness. I wonder what it was like to be Resende? What was he thinking about as he swiped and blended? Look at the way that purple shape hovers behind the figures, almost like a halo, a protective spirit, or maybe just an umbrella! You can feel him experimenting here; he is almost dialoguing with the image. This feels connected to other painters like Bonnard or Vuillard, in its intimate and domestic feel. All painters are in conversation with one another, picking up the thread of art history and weaving something new. It's about feeling your way through, embracing the unpredictable, and allowing the painting to surprise you.