Głowa kobiety w czarnym kapeluszu 1925

This is a painting by Tadeusz Makowski, 'Head of a Woman in a Black Hat', and it’s oil on canvas. Look at the way Makowski approaches mark making here; it's all about process. The canvas has a gorgeous, subtly textured surface, doesn't it? It's like a quiet hum beneath the image. The paint is laid on pretty thinly, with these semi-transparent layers that let the ground peek through. It feels like the artist wasn't trying to hide anything, but rather revealing the very act of painting. Then, there’s that black hat, almost like a dark halo framing her face, but if you look closer there is a single delicate pink flower adding this wonderful touch of whimsy, a splash of sweetness. It reminds me a little of Milton Avery’s work, where simplicity and colour come together to create a whole world of feeling. I love that it’s not trying to be definitive; instead, it opens up all sorts of possibilities.