Houses at night 

This is "Houses at Night" by Albert Bloch, painted with oil on canvas. The stark forms of the houses dominate, rendered with an almost brutal simplicity. Notice the thick, expressive brushstrokes that define the buildings. This creates a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. The color palette is dominated by muted tones with stark contrasts. The looming darkness suggests a sense of unease. The composition, with its asymmetrical arrangement of forms, feels unstable, mirroring the emotional intensity of the scene. Bloch's use of bold, simplified shapes destabilizes conventional landscape painting. Instead, the scene becomes a field for exploring psychological states. The figure, shrouded in darkness, adds another layer of complexity, creating a dialogue between interiority and exteriority. The visible brushwork functions as a sign of the artist's subjective experience, a theme central to early expressionism. The painting becomes a statement about the artist's inner world.