Parc Sous La Lune 1940

Roderic O'Conor’s "Parc Sous La Lune" is an evocative painting working in shades of blue, yellow and brown. It is all about mood, and the process seems to be one of feeling out the landscape, not just copying it. I really get a sense of O'Conor’s attention to the materiality of paint. The color feels thick and luminous, especially that single spot of yellow moon. Look how the paint is applied in layers, building up a complex surface. There is a figure, barely visible, lurking in the shadows of the park - this small detail is what really carries the painting for me. In terms of art history, you could say O'Conor was thinking about Whistler's nocturnes, those hazy London scenes but this feels more personal, more raw. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide what this painting means to you.