Etude de tissu 1946

Serge Poliakoff made this abstract painting with oil on canvas and he called it ‘Etude de tissu,’ which means ‘Fabric Study’ in French. I can imagine Poliakoff in his studio, layering planes of colour intuitively, one on top of the other until forms start to emerge, and the painting begins to breathe. The surface is built up through subtle shifts of teal, with a purple bean-like shape taking centre stage. There is a smaller form, a slash of red hovering above it like a thought bubble. What I love most is the way the painting reveals its making. You can almost feel the drag of the brush across the canvas and the gentle build-up of texture. It’s like Poliakoff is sharing his thought process. It’s a kind of conversation between colours, shapes, and textures and it also becomes a conversation between the artist, the painting, and us. And that's what keeps painting alive!