Baron in Al Held-Veld 1966

Raoul De Keyser made this painting, 'Baron in Al Held-Veld,' with oil on canvas; the date is unknown. The canvas is divided into sections, some yellow and some green. A blue line cuts through the painting. A black dog – or is it? – seems to be looking away. What I love about this piece is its tentativeness. It feels as though it is still coming into being. Look closely, and you can see the history of marks, of the artist changing his mind. It's as if De Keyser is in conversation with other artists such as Al Held, constantly searching for something new. The brushstrokes forming the dog are loose and expressive, conveying the essence of the animal without getting bogged down in details. There’s a sense of playfulness. He's not just representing something; he's figuring out how to represent it. It's a reminder that painting isn't about answers, but the questions we ask along the way.