Still Life with Mimosas 1939

Max Beckmann made this painting, Still Life with Mimosas, with oil on canvas. The way Beckmann builds up the layers of colour gives you a sense of his process, almost like you can see the painting figuring itself out as it goes along. Look at how the thick, almost sculptural, paint brings a real physicality to the mimosas, making them pop right off the canvas. Then there's that book, "Volta", leaning casually against the vase. I love how the title is scrawled across the cover. It's a nod to intellectual life, maybe even a hint of the artist’s own voice in the conversation. Beckmann's use of colour, with those vibrant yellows against the muted greens and browns, really grabs your attention. It reminds me of how Matisse used colour to create a sense of space and light. Ultimately, the beauty of painting is in its openness, how it allows us to bring our own experiences and interpretations to the work.