Vent 1960

Rene Duvillier’s painting, "Vent" is a flurry of brushstrokes that feels like a release of energy, captured on canvas. It’s all about process, you can feel the artist working, pushing paint around to build the composition. Looking at the surface, you can see how the thick, almost wet strokes of deep reds and blues create a swirling, turbulent effect. There’s a real physicality to the medium, and it's easy to imagine Duvillier’s arm movements as he applied each mark. Take a look at the way the dark shades at the bottom seem to rise and lighten as they reach the top. It's almost like the paint itself is breathing, a visual exhale. This work reminds me of Joan Mitchell, another artist who wasn’t afraid to let loose with color and gesture. With “Vent” Duvillier offers us a way to see the world as a place of constant motion and change, and maybe, to find some beauty in the chaos.