Bateau sur la lagune, Venise 1955

Charles Lapicque’s painting, "Bateau sur la lagune, Venise," presents a vibrant, almost hallucinatory, vision of Venice. Thick brushstrokes and bold colors create a dynamic surface, disrupting any sense of traditional perspective. The composition is a complex layering of forms. We see boats, figures, and architectural elements all rendered in a flattened, almost abstract style. Lapicque challenges our conventional understanding of space and depth. The bright, dissonant colors, like the purples, reds, and greens, add to the painting's restless energy. These choices destabilize established meanings, inviting us to see Venice not as a literal depiction but as a field of pure, unadulterated sensation. Consider the almost childlike simplicity of the shapes. This might be seen as a strategy to undermine the established artistic values of representation and skill. Lapicque seems less interested in depicting Venice accurately and more interested in exploring the raw, emotive power of color and form. The painting challenges us to reconsider how we perceive and interpret visual information.