Târg în Grande Jatte 1922

Samuel Mutzner captured this bustling market scene on canvas with oil in 1922. Just look at how the dappled sunlight filters through the trees, creating these little explosions of light and shadow across the canvas. I can almost feel the heat of the day and hear the chatter of the crowd. You can see Mutzner’s thick brushstrokes, especially in the foreground, where the paint seems to almost stand up from the canvas. He’s not trying to create a perfect representation of the scene, but more like an impression – a feeling of being there. I wonder if Mutzner was thinking about the French Impressionists when he made this; the way he captures light and movement reminds me of Monet or Renoir. But Mutzner's got his own thing going on, with those bold strokes and a slightly more earthy palette. It makes me think about how artists are always in dialogue with one another, building on what came before while also forging their own path. Painting isn’t about answers but about endless questions, and the joy of seeing what happens when you let go and let the paint lead the way.