Il Priore Di Garaveglia 1948

Bruno Cassinari made "Il Priore Di Garaveglia" with oils, and I love the way he’s built up the paint in layers here. It’s so physical, you know? Like he’s wrestling with the canvas. Look at the way the burgundy of the Priore’s cloak almost vibrates against the muted grays and browns of the background. There’s this tension between the figure and the space around him. The paint is thick in places, especially around the face, which gives him this almost sculptural quality. I can see Cassinari layering colors, letting some peek through others. It’s not about hiding the process, but about reveling in it. The blue dab of paint on the Priore's chest is unexpected, but it holds the whole composition together, like a mistake that turns into a discovery. Cassinari’s work reminds me a bit of Soutine, who could also make a portrait feel so raw and immediate. It’s like they’re both saying, "Art is not about perfection, but about the messy, beautiful struggle to see and feel."