Composition 1950

Jean Messagier made this painting using a lovely pale color scheme that reminds me of faded photographs. I can imagine him in his studio, slowly building up the image with layers of washes and strokes. You can see the ghostly traces of the artist's hand in the wispy, ethereal lines that float across the surface. It's like he's trying to capture something fleeting or ephemeral. I can see the brushstrokes and feel the texture of the paper. Look at that row of dark blue teardrop shapes floating above that patch of yellow; they feel like a musical refrain, a repeated motif. I can imagine Messagier moving the brush around with curiosity, and creating something so airy and light! Painters like Messagier remind us that painting isn't just about representation. It's about exploring the possibilities of the medium and inviting us to participate in that creative process, too.