Study for The Foolish Old Man. 1940

This is a study by Xu Beihong for his painting, 'The Foolish Old Man', and it is a marvel. Look at the way the figures emerge from the canvas in browns and creams, the ochres of labour. The scene unfolds left to right. Old gives way to the dynamism of youthful energy and strength. I imagine Beihong wrestling with the composition, shifting figures around, layering the paint, maybe wiping it back to find the right balance. I sympathise, you know? It's a struggle every painter knows! Here, the paint is applied in thin washes, allowing the forms to breathe. See that figure with arms upraised? That's the one. The gesture communicates effort, determination, a kind of heroic striving. It calls to mind socialist realism, but also classical sculpture, like Michelangelo. Painters build on the past. It's a conversation across time. Each brushstroke embodies not just form, but feeling. It reminds us that painting isn't just about seeing; it's about feeling, thinking, and maybe, just maybe, understanding something new.