Shadow on a Table and Woman 1 

Iwo Zaniewski painted *Shadow on a Table and Woman 1* with oils, a traditional fine art material, but to distinctly non-traditional ends. Notice how the paint isn't blended to create a convincing illusion. Instead, Zaniewski leaves visible brushstrokes, reminding us of the physical act of applying pigment to canvas. This approach emphasizes the materiality of the painting itself, rather than any story it might be trying to tell. The dark, heavy shadow dominates the composition. It’s built up from layers of deep blues and blacks, applied with visible energy. In contrast, the woman and the table are rendered with a lighter touch, almost like fleeting memories. The overall effect is one of quiet introspection, a moment captured not with photographic precision, but with the subjective hand of the artist. The painting challenges us to consider how the very act of making—the application of paint, the artist's touch—shapes our understanding of what we see. This invites us to move beyond the surface and appreciate the depth of feeling that materials can convey.