Composition 1926

Félix Del Marle made this untitled composition with paint, sometime in the first half of the twentieth century. The palette is mostly blues and greens, with touches of brown and cream. Looking closely, you can see these zig-zagging shapes, like the ocean’s currents, pushing and pulling against each other, forming some kind of whirlpool in the center of the canvas. The paint isn’t applied smoothly, but with visible brushstrokes, which adds to the sense of movement and energy. I like how the darker blues and greens create a sense of depth, while the lighter shades seem to float on the surface. The way Del Marle uses color reminds me a little of Sonia Delaunay and her exploration of light and form, though Del Marle’s approach feels more turbulent. Art is an ongoing conversation across time, and there are no fixed meanings, only different ways of seeing.