Little girl’s head 1919

Tadeusz Makowski made this painting, "Little Girl's Head", with oil paint, in no particular year that we know of. What gets me about this piece is the way Makowski seems to be figuring out the face as he goes. There’s a real sense of searching in the brushwork, the way the colours mix and blend, the process is really visible. Up close, you can see the texture of the paint, how he’s layered different tones to build up the form. The skin is not just one colour but a mix of blues, pinks, and earth tones. Look at the small, almost uncertain strokes around the eyes and mouth; they’re so delicate. It reminds me a little of Chaim Soutine, with that same kind of raw, emotional intensity, that makes you feel like you're seeing the world through the artist's eyes. Art’s like a conversation, each artist builds on what’s come before, finding their own way to express something real and true.