Primavera 1901

Pasquale Celommi made this painting, Primavera, whenever, with paint. Look how the grass is rendered, like tiny green commas laid out in a smooth carpet. It’s pretty wild how the artist has handled the paint, so controlled in some areas, especially the figures, and looser elsewhere. Check out how the red of the corset pops. It's pretty intense! The figures feel solid and real, whereas the green feels a little more fluid, like a dream. It's really all about the green here, isn't it? It’s like the figures are emerging out of greenness. This way of balancing detail with looseness reminds me a little of Corot, who was doing similar stuff a little earlier. What a painter, what a painting!