Zwożenie zboża 1918

Tadeusz Makowski made this painting, Zwożenie zboża, with oil paint, and the surface has a kind of crumbly texture. The making of this painting feels really immediate. I’m drawn to the way the ochres and reds are daubed on, it’s almost childlike in its directness. The way he attacks the canvas feels connected to the act of harvesting itself, with its slightly frenetic, physical demands. Look at that small bird perched on the cart, it’s a tiny mark but it brings the whole scene to life! Everything feels animated and slightly out of kilter. It reminds me of Soutine's paintings, where the brushstrokes have a similarly anxious energy. With Makowski, like Soutine, it’s as though the painting is less about a specific subject, and more about the act of painting itself. It’s a conversation, full of possibilities and questions.