Valentina 2014

Gazmend Freitag painted "Valentina" on canvas with oil, though the exact date isn't specified. The painting captures a moment, a feeling, more than a precise rendering. Freitag's painting feels grounded in the physical act of applying paint, with visible brushstrokes creating a textured surface that shimmers like the water it depicts. The paint application is loose and free. Look at the way he captures the play of light on the water; it's not about perfect realism, but about conveying the sensation of being there. I'm thinking of the way he's painted the shadow of the figure; a dark pool of colour that offsets the pinks and oranges of her skin. The figure is built up of marks, gestures and erasures; not just a body but an impression of a body. It reminds me of some of the early figurative paintings of someone like Pierre Bonnard, a sense of intimacy and immediacy. It's a reminder that painting is an ongoing conversation, with each artist bringing their unique voice and vision to the canvas.