Untitled 1997

Vasile Dobrian made this untitled painting in 1987 with a bold palette of blues, yellows, and a snaking black line, dancing across the surface. Imagine Dobrian in his studio, brush in hand, teasing out these shapes. The black feels so definite! It really pops out against the muted blues and vibrant yellows, doesn't it? The juxtaposition of flat planes and hard lines suggests he's not trying to trick us into seeing an illusion. The yellow is sunshine bright, thick enough that it almost vibrates and the blue gives it a great contrast. A very 80’s palette! The artist is in conversation with painters like Matisse, or maybe Milton Avery; the shapes and the colour blockings feel familiar, but I wonder, what’s next? Perhaps some painter will see this and think, aha! And they’ll make something new.