Lusthaus, c. 1930

Carl Moll daubed this yellow building, called Lusthaus, with oil paint on canvas. I love imagining him outside in the park, squinting in the sun. The painting is all about surface, I think. The way Moll applied the paint really animates the scene. The paint isn’t thick, but it isn't thin, either; just enough to create a sense of texture, like you could feel the tree bark or the brick. It's like he's just slathering the paint on, willy-nilly, but then pulls it all together. The vertical strokes of the trees contrast with the horizontal strokes of the building, making the whole thing seem like it’s breathing. The Impressionists definitely influenced Moll – he’s capturing a moment, a fleeting glimpse of everyday life. But he’s also doing his own thing, pulling the colors and shapes together to create a really harmonious whole. Painters like Moll are in constant conversation, responding to each other across time and space.