Balchik 1938

Vasile Popescu made Balchik, probably in the early 20th century, with oil paint. I can tell because the surface looks brushed and scrubbed, like he was really working the paint into the canvas. Check out that window on the left side. There are these delicious reds and greens, really thick and juicy. It's like Popescu wanted to bring the outside in, to have the energy of the landscape right up against the calm of the building. The paint is applied directly, you can see the strokes. This is not about illusionism, it’s more about capturing the raw experience of being there, in that place, at that moment. I love that Popescu isn't trying to hide the process, he's embracing it. It reminds me a bit of Milton Avery's landscapes, with their simple shapes and muted colors. Both artists seem to be after something real, something beyond just what we see, I think they get to the emotional core of a place. With Popescu, it's not just a landscape, it's a feeling.