Landscape in Ţapului 

Curator: This vibrant piece is titled "Landscape in \u0162apului" by Margareta Sterian. It appears to be rendered in a combination of watercolor and possibly oil pastel. The scene depicts a town nestled beneath rolling hills, with architectural elements boldly sketched. What's your initial reaction? Editor: It strikes me as quite evocative. The chaotic brushstrokes and unconventional color palette—especially that stark juxtaposition of blues and yellows—imbue the cityscape with an almost unsettling energy. There's a rawness here that subverts the typically tranquil nature of landscapes. Curator: I find the inclusion of the church particularly interesting. With its domed spires prominently positioned, it serves as more than mere scenery. The artist emphasizes not only its presence, but also its role as a cultural and spiritual cornerstone within this community. What continuities from previous representations can be seen? Editor: Good point. I think that Sterian is offering commentary on modernization here, because if you really look closely, it's all about industrial presence. Trains dominate the painting: not serene rolling hills or pastoral scenes. We can read this as anxiety from this quickly modernizing region. I'm not sure this really feels like any kind of continuity as such. Curator: An intriguing take, and the lack of human figures contributes to that sense of alienation. What looks like chaos might really point towards modern disorientation. The seemingly random strokes in areas suggest growth, development but equally uncertainty. What can the style teach us? Editor: The expressionistic style, in that regard, seems less a choice and more of a necessity, an attempt to capture the internal state, rather than document any external reality of Romanian identity. I think the rapid application creates an honest depiction of modern transformation; which suggests the anxiety. I'm just not sure that transformation of identity feels too good. Curator: Indeed. Perhaps it invites us to consider how landscapes—artistic or literal—are never neutral, never simply beautiful; they are always shaped by history and ideology, and also our cultural identity. What will we take away from here, from \u0162apului? Editor: We might see, ultimately, a snapshot of a moment in flux: cultural anxieties that reverberate even today. The tension between progress and preservation and all painted across Sterian's arresting tableau.