Tatar Women in Mangalia 1930

Francisc Sirato, sometime in the early 20th century, painted ‘Tatar Women in Mangalia’ with oils, and it’s all about the joy of seeing. The textures are built up, thick in places, like the walls, but thinner where the light catches the road. You can almost feel the sun beating down. I love the way the artist renders the figures. It’s gestural, almost abstract, really focusing on shape and shadow to conjure presence. And the color palette is so warm, these muted yellows, browns, and greens that somehow sing together. There’s a dialogue happening between the buildings and the women and it makes the piece feel alive. It reminds me of some of the landscapes of Bonnard, how he uses color to capture the feeling of a place, and to suggest the ever-changing play of light and shadow, rather than trying to create a photographic likeness. It’s all about the painting’s own internal logic, and the conversations it’s having on the canvas.