Old man at a water well 1903

Jacek Malczewski made this painting of an old man at a water well in 1903. Just look at the earthy tones and loose brushstrokes. The way he's worked the paint shows us a process that's all about feeling. The materiality of this work really gets me. The strokes are visible, thick in places, giving a real sense of texture. You can almost feel the weight of the man’s cloak. Focus on the way Malczewski has rendered the hands – one covering his face, the other resting on his lap, they're painted with such sensitivity, really drawing attention to his emotional state. It reminds me a little of Van Gogh, in the way he captures the inner life of his subjects. This piece isn't about perfect representation; it’s about capturing a feeling, a mood. Art isn’t about answers, it’s about opening up conversations, and Malczewski invites us into one here.