Hop Frog 1986

Greg Hildebrandt painted this picture of “Hop Frog” and even though we don’t have a date, you can tell it's made with oil paint in a way that captures a fleeting moment. It's like the whole process is right there on the canvas. Looking at the painting, especially the swirling orange and yellow around the flames, you can almost feel the heat radiating off of it. You see how the brushstrokes are really visible and full of movement, especially around the fool's costume and the fire? Each stroke contributes to the overall texture, making it almost palpable. And the way Hildebrandt layers those colors to create depth is just wild. See that one little flick of red right above the flames? It’s like a tiny rebellious mark that somehow holds the whole chaotic scene together. It reminds me of some of Goya’s darker pieces, where beauty and horror dance together, but I guess that’s the whole point of art, isn’t it? It’s not about giving answers, but about asking questions.