Rabbits 1932

Tadeusz Makowski painted these Rabbits with oils, at an unknown date. Look at the way the ochre ground shines through the figures, a scumbling of colour. This reveals the handmade process and suggests a way of thinking through making. It is interesting how Makowski has captured the textural quality of fur with his brushstrokes, the little flicks of pigment that animate each animal. In contrast, the background is flatter and more diffuse, achieved with looser brushwork and thinner paint. See the way the reddish eyes of the central rabbit pop against the pale fur? These types of marks are both representational and abstract. Perhaps Makowski looked at folk art for his influence. Like folk art, this painting shows a childlike approach, full of wonder and simplicity. There is a real sense of playfulness and openness in this piece, which invites us to see the world anew.