Children in disguises 1929

Tadeusz Makowski made this painting, *Children in Disguises*, with oil on canvas sometime in the early 20th century. Look at how the umber paint pools around the base of each figure, like they are standing in a puddle of coffee. There's something raw and immediate about the application of paint here. You can almost feel the brushstrokes. The artist uses a limited palette of browns, whites, and muted primary colors, yet it feels so rich, so full. I love the little key one of the figures is holding, it’s almost like a small bird. It feels like Makowski is telling us something about the nature of childhood, a world of secrets and hidden places. I’m reminded of Ensor, and his masked figures, but there's something more tender here, a sense of playfulness that softens the potential for darkness. Ultimately, this piece feels like an invitation to embrace our own inner child, with all its messiness and wonder.