Dwarf with Red Flowers 2005

Stefan Caltia made this painting, Dwarf with Red Flowers, using oil on canvas. Look at that beautiful blue ground! It has the even flatness of a stage backdrop. Caltia's brushstrokes are delicate and deliberate, building up layers of thin paint to create a smooth, almost ethereal surface. You can sense the artist’s hand in the way he renders the figure's costume, patterned with these soft, floral motifs. This detail contrasts beautifully with the rawness of the hands. The puppet-like figure stands suspended between worlds, both grounded and floating. The arch of red flowers frames the subject in a way that reminds me of the work of Redon. Both artists use a dreamlike visual language. Ultimately, this work is about opening a space where ambiguity and multiple readings reside.