Bouquet 1935

Cyprián Majerník made this painting of a bouquet sometime in the 20th century, probably with gouache. I see soft, broad strokes, kind of like a watercolor, but more opaque, less translucent. I can imagine Majerník being really free and improvisational, layering colors, wiping them away, then adding more, to get that lush build-up of petals. The painting almost breathes. Look how the greens and reds play off each other, so vibrant, yet calm. That sketchy brown outline around the vase seems crucial, like the whole painting came together around that one decision. It’s a painting about painting! It reminds me a little of Bonnard, but with a kind of rawness. It's like Majerník is saying, "Here's my world, here's how I see it, take it or leave it." Painters are always in conversation like that, aren't they? Making marks, reacting to history, to each other. It’s less about perfection and more about the ongoing exploration of what it means to see and feel.