Embrace 1936

Cyprián Majerník made this painting, "Embrace", in 1936, we don't know with what, but I see oil paint, or maybe gouache? The paint is applied in thin layers, it is quite transparent, and the brushstrokes are visible everywhere, building the forms loosely. The woman’s dress is made up of these gestural marks in layered hues of white. The brown of the embracing hands stands out against the other colours and darker tones in the painting and create a stark contrast. There is a kind of dreamlike tension here, like a snapshot from a disturbing fairytale. Majerník was interested in the psychological and existential themes, and often worked in series, exploring variations on similar subjects. This piece feels like an earlier version of some of Philip Guston's later, more figurative works. Both artists embrace a kind of vulnerable, raw exploration of the human condition, leaving plenty of space for interpretation.