Cannes, Les Allees 1968

Włodzimierz Zakrzewski made "Cannes, Les Allees" with what looks like oil paint applied in thick, luscious strokes that capture a street scene in France. I can imagine Zakrzewski standing en plein air, squinting in the Mediterranean light, trying to capture the essence of a row of trees lining a busy road. There's a real push and pull between representation and abstraction here. The trees are clearly trees, but they're also just glorious daubs of paint, built up layer upon layer. Look at the way the light filters through the branches; you can almost feel the warmth on your skin. The brushstrokes are so physical, so present, that you can sense the artist's hand moving across the canvas. It reminds me of Van Gogh's landscapes, but with a uniquely modern sensibility. Painters are always in conversation with each other, borrowing and riffing off ideas. Zakrzewski invites us to see the world anew, not as a static image, but as an ever-changing, dynamic experience.