Record Time, Cool Summer Comfort, House of Kuppenheimer ad c. 1920

This anonymous artwork, a House of Kuppenheimer ad, showcases a confident use of oil paint, likely from a bygone era. The artist's mark-making feels direct, almost brash, highlighting a deep understanding of process. I’m drawn to how the artist handles the materiality of paint; it’s neither overly blended nor rigidly defined. Take the swimmer’s arm, for instance: each stroke feels deliberate, building volume and light with an economy of means. The paint is applied with varying thicknesses, creating a tactile surface that captures the vitality of skin and muscle. This approach makes me think of Fairfield Porter, another artist who found beauty in everyday scenes, using paint to capture fleeting moments with a similar blend of observation and intuition. Ultimately, art is about conversation and exchange. This image invites us to contemplate the interplay between representation and abstraction, inviting us to see the world, and each other, in new ways.