Woodcutters 1959

In Ivan Generalic’s painting Woodcutters, an entire world appears, rendered with such painstaking detail that it feels alive. I can only imagine Generalic perched over his work, each tiny brushstroke an act of devotion. Are those figures woodcutting up in the trees? It’s charming! The composition has such interesting movement, leading us from the labourers on the ground up to the woodcutters. It’s a landscape, but also so much more. With a cow, a peacock, and what’s that other bird? It feels symbolic, mythic even. The high horizon line and flattened perspective create a captivating sense of depth, drawing us into the scene. It reminds me of the work of Henri Rousseau, another self-taught artist whose vision was utterly unique. What is the relationship between labour and nature, between the everyday and the exotic? What does it all mean?! Generalic shows us that painting isn’t just about representation, but about exploring the endless possibilities of seeing.