Crucifixion 1937

Georges Rouault made this painting, "Crucifixion," with oil paint in a style that’s both raw and deeply expressive. Imagine Rouault layering those strokes, almost like he’s building a stained-glass window right there on the canvas. The heavy black lines aren’t just outlines, they’re like holding the whole scene together. The blues and reds, they feel so intense, and that figure on the cross—you can feel the weight of it all, right? I see the way Rouault laid down each brushstroke like he's wrestling with something profound. It reminds me of other artists like El Greco, who stretched figures to convey spiritual drama, or even some of the German Expressionists, who weren’t afraid to show the world’s pain. Painting, for Rouault and for many of us, isn't just about making an image. It’s about grappling with the big questions, and maybe finding a little bit of light in the darkest of places.