With a hammer (Trading) 1936

Ivan Generalic made “With a Hammer (Trading)” with paint; you can tell he was really in the thick of it. Look at the way the paint sits on the surface, almost chalky, like it's been scrubbed on, especially in the sky. This isn't about showing off some slick technique; it's like he's wrestling with the scene, trying to pin down the feeling of a hard winter day. The colors, mostly muted grays and browns, make the bright red skirt pop, drawing your eye right to the center of all the action. It is like the woman is the heart of the scene. That little fire down in the corner feels like a personal touch, a tiny bit of warmth amidst all the cold and uncertainty. You might think about Pieter Bruegel, but Generalic's got this raw, unfiltered vision that's all his own. He reminds us that art isn't just about what you see, but what you feel.