Woman’s head 1930 - 1931

Mikuláš Galanda painted this “Woman’s Head,” probably using gouache, to give it that matte, chalky surface. The limited palette is really striking, and so modern. The gray of the head and table is almost like a black and white photo, but then you have the blue background, and the yellow curtain that jolt you back into color. Look how Galanda painted the head with these confident, broad strokes. It's like he's carving the face out of the paper. Then there’s the rose, so delicately placed. It's kind of a symbol of beauty, of course, but also fragility. I’m reminded of Giorgio Morandi, who also played with muted tones and simple, geometric forms. Both artists invite us to slow down and really see the world around us, to find beauty in the everyday. Ultimately, Galanda’s work, like all great art, is about asking questions rather than providing answers.