Atpūta. 1972

Guntis Strupulis' painting evokes the feeling of a shared moment in nature. The work has an earthy palette, with its greens, browns, and muted blues, and the figures are rendered with a gentle touch. I’m really feeling the horse. With its soft, pale coat and quietly powerful presence, it’s like a silent observer of this scene. I can imagine Strupulis carefully layering the paint, building up the forms, and letting the figures emerge from the canvas, creating a sense of depth and solidity. Each brushstroke feels deliberate, yet the overall effect is one of spontaneity, as if the scene has been captured in a fleeting moment. The human figures are having refreshments, in the cool shadows. The light flickers through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground, and the air seems still and quiet. It makes me wonder if he knew Courbet. I think Strupulis invites us to slow down, to observe, and to find beauty in the everyday. I can just feel how artists, across time, are in an ongoing conversation, inspiring each other’s creativity.