Les Grappes de Raisin 1930

Seraphine Louis made "Les Grappes de Raisin" with oil paint, and it's a feast for the eyes. Look at the way the colors vibrate against each other. The dark purples of the grapes pop against the yellows and greens of the leaves, creating a surface that shimmers and pulses with life. Up close, you can see how the paint is built up in layers, giving the whole composition a feeling of depth. The painting has a naive quality, but it's also incredibly sophisticated in its use of color and texture. I keep thinking about the little tendrils, painted in bright yellow, reaching out from the central form, as if to tickle you. This idea of making marks which point out from a central locus is really interesting, it’s almost like the piece is trying to catch your attention! It's like Louis is inviting us to enter her world and experience the abundance and wonder of nature. This approach to mark making reminds me a bit of Hilma af Klint, who was also interested in exploring the hidden dimensions of reality through her art. It seems to me like both these artists create work which exists somewhere between representation and abstraction.