Cișmigiu Garden 1940

Samuel Mutzner made this painting of Cișmigiu Garden with what looks like a whole lotta paint, and probably a brush too! Check out the juicy, thick strokes – it's like he's sculpting the scene with color. The greens are so alive, and those purples and pinks in the foliage? Unexpected, but they totally sing. You can almost feel the texture of the leaves, the rough bark of the trees. It’s a visceral thing, painting, and Mutzner reminds us of that. Look at the lower part of the trees, where the dark brown trunk splits into the branches of lighter green. I’d put money on the idea he was influenced by the Impressionists, but he’s got his own thing going on here. There’s a real freedom, you know? A sense of just diving in and letting the paint do its thing. I think of Bonnard, both artists were masters of capturing light and atmosphere. Ultimately painting is all about asking questions and staying curious.