Sun in May 1911

Józef Mehoffer made this painting, "Sun in May", in Poland. Just look at how those whites and yellows glow! I can almost feel the warmth of the sun as it streams through that window and bounces off the walls. And that rose tree smack-bang in the middle of the room – what a bold move! It’s like Mehoffer wanted to bring the outside in, blurring the lines between the domestic and the natural worlds. The overall feeling is that of a dreamscape, a fleeting moment suspended in time. I wonder what it was like for him, standing there with his brushes, trying to capture that light, that mood, that perfect balance. The lilac and roses hint at fin-de-siècle painting. I'm reminded of Vuillard and Bonnard. This piece sits within a long tradition of artists trying to capture the magic of light and space on canvas.