Forest Interior with a Brook 1900 - 1902

Ladislav Mednyánszky made this oil painting, Forest Interior with a Brook, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century, using a palette that's basically greens and browns. It’s like he’s building the scene from layers of atmosphere. The texture here is really interesting, because you can see how the paint is applied in short, choppy strokes, especially in the foreground. It’s not about smooth blending but about the physicality of the paint itself. Look at that band of light cutting through the middle, like a quick slash of yellow. It’s almost violent, but it brings the whole painting to life. Mednyánszky’s later landscapes become even more abstract. You can see him pushing further into this idea of paint as its own language. It makes me think a little of Courbet, but with a more mystical, internal vibe.