Trianon 1920

Lili Elbe made this painting, Trianon, with oil on canvas. The brushwork here, with its short strokes and dabs of color, shows a clear interest in artmaking as a process. You get the feeling that Elbe wasn't aiming for perfection but was more concerned with capturing a fleeting moment, a specific impression. The painting's surface is alive with texture. The paint isn’t applied smoothly; instead, it's built up in layers, creating a kind of gentle roughness. The colors are muted, mostly greens and browns, but they create a serene and tranquil mood. Look at the reflection of the building in the water. It's not a perfect mirror image; instead, it's broken up and distorted by the ripples on the water's surface. This reminds me of Monet, who was interested in the way light and water could transform a scene. Like with the work of Walter Sickert, there's an interest here in the quiet beauty of everyday life and seeing the world in a personal way. Art isn't about giving clear answers, but about asking questions and opening up new ways of seeing and experiencing things.