Leccare 2007

Enzo Cucchi made this small painting on an unknown date, using, it seems, primarily oil paint. The cobalt blue practically vibrates off the surface. You can almost smell the pigment, thick and alive. Look closely, and you'll see how Cucchi applied the paint in rhythmic, almost sculptural strokes, as if he were building up the form of the bull layer by layer. The texture alone makes the painting feel visceral. I keep thinking about that dark outline along the bull's back, how it curls around the form, defining it but also flattening it out in a way. It's like the whole history of painting is compressed into that one line. Cucchi’s boldness reminds me of Guston, who transformed himself from an abstract expressionist into a figurative painter with cartoon-like characters. They both remind us that painting is about embracing the freedom to change our minds, to contradict ourselves, and to find new ways of seeing the world.