Paja Jovanović, Ženidba Cara Dušana, 1901 1904

Paja Jovanovic created *Ženidba Cara Dušana* in 1901 with oil on canvas, and what strikes me right away is the muted palette, like faded tapestries, lending the scene a romantic, almost dreamlike quality. You can almost feel the artist building up the composition layer by layer. Look at the texture, the way Jovanovic handles the paint. It's not about a slick finish; instead, there's a visible, tangible quality to the surface. See how the figures emerge from this sea of earth tones and soft blues? Take that figure in the bottom right, seemingly suspended in movement – the earthy tones of his cloak almost blend into the background, yet the face is rendered with a lively, almost mischievous expression. The more you look, the more you realize that it is not about historical accuracy so much as creating a vivid, immersive experience. It reminds me a bit of Gericault, or even Delacroix, these history painters, but with its own touch, like a folk song you can't quite place. The overall effect is a sense of timelessness, as if the artist is reminding us that history is always a story we tell ourselves.