Vent 1960

Rene Duvillier made this painting called "Vent" with big, swooping gestures and a moody palette. It’s like watching a storm gather, or maybe a flock of birds taking flight, shifting and emerging through layers of intuitive marks. I imagine Duvillier, with his brush loaded, attacking the canvas. What was he thinking, feeling? The paint isn't too thick, more like washes pulled across the surface, creating a kind of airy depth. Look at those dark blue strokes on the right! They're so full of energy, you can almost feel the wind pushing against them. You can sense the artist’s intention, their emotional state, through the way they manipulate the paint. Duvillier’s work reminds me of other painters who aren't afraid to let loose and embrace chance, like Joan Mitchell or even Cy Twombly. We're all in conversation with each other, borrowing, stealing, and riffing off ideas across time. Painting is an ongoing form of embodied expression, embracing ambiguity and uncertainty. There's no single right answer.