Stehende Zigeunerkinder 1927

Otto Mueller made this painting, Stehende Zigeunerkinder, with distemper on canvas. You can see the mark-making is quite free and loose, which gives a sense of immediacy, like he's trying to capture a fleeting moment. The colors are earthy, but with these pops of soft pink and red that feel almost dreamlike. The surface has this matte, chalky quality, because he's using distemper, which is like a kind of glue-based paint. It makes the colors feel very grounded, but also slightly faded, like a memory. Look at the way he's painted the dresses: just a few strokes, but you get the sense of the fabric and the light. There’s a very direct, honest approach to the medium, with no attempt to hide the process. I'm reminded of Paula Modersohn-Becker, who was also interested in portraying everyday life with a similar kind of rawness and simplicity. Art is all about this conversation across time. It's never really fixed, always open to new interpretations.