Black bear 1910

Niko Pirosmani painted this bear, probably in the early 1900s, using oil on oilcloth. The palette is incredibly simple, black, white, blue, and brown, applied with a direct, almost childlike approach, which is exactly what I like about it. You just get the sense that he went straight at it, no messing. The bear's fur is rendered with broad strokes of black and white, creating a sense of volume and texture. The paint looks quite thin, almost stained into the canvas, which gives it a kind of raw, immediate feel. Look at the way Pirosmani defined the bear's contours with those bold, white strokes! They don’t just describe the shape; they give the animal a presence, a kind of rough and ready dignity. The red accent in the bear's mouth adds a touch of drama, a hint of wildness barely contained. Pirosmani’s simplified forms and bold use of color remind me a little of Henri Rousseau, another artist who created his own unique visual language. Both artists show us that sometimes the most powerful art comes from embracing simplicity and trusting your own vision.