oh… how I love you 2020

Martine Johanna painted 'oh… how I love you,' sometime in the 20th century, using what looks like oil on canvas. There's this quiet intensity in the way she's rendered the figure and the carousel horse. I can almost feel Johanna’s careful brushstrokes, building up layers of color to create a sense of depth and emotion. You know, making a painting is kind of like having a conversation, a back-and-forth between the artist and the canvas. I can imagine Johanna, lost in thought, maybe reflecting on themes of affection, childhood memories, or the transient nature of beauty. The interplay between the figure’s solemn gaze and the whimsical, almost melancholic beauty of the horse feels significant. And that pop of the red! It kind of reminds me of Paula Rego's raw, emotional narratives, but with a surreal, dreamlike twist. Like all good paintings, this one leaves you with more questions than answers.