V červnu 1938

Josef Capek made this painting, V červnu, with what looks like oil on canvas, and it's signed 'Capek 36.' in the corner, so probably made in 1936. It feels like the colours are coming straight from the tube! Look at the way the paint is applied in thick, expressive strokes, capturing the essence of a summer landscape. It's really process-oriented, like the act of painting is as important as the finished product. The texture is so tactile; I can almost feel the ridges of the brushstrokes. I keep coming back to the way Capek paints the field. See how he uses these bold, sweeping lines of yellow and green, creating a sense of movement and depth? It’s like the whole scene is breathing! You can see a similar expressive handling of paint in the work of Emil Nolde. Capek embraced ambiguity, inviting us to find our own meaning within the brushstrokes.