Winter Landscape 1989

Constantin Piliuta made this winter landscape painting, probably in his studio, with brushes, oils, and maybe a palette knife. The whole scene is blanketed in powdery snow. There are these subtle marks, these dragged strokes of white and grey, that feel like the artist was pushing the paint around, searching for the light, for the form. He’s building up the image, layer by layer, almost like the snow itself accumulating on the roofs of these little houses. I can imagine him squinting, trying to capture that muted, almost melancholic feeling of a winter’s day. Look how the bare trees reach up like dark scribbles against the pale sky. It feels like Piliuta is trying to find a balance between representation and something more intuitive, more felt. Like he’s after the sensation of winter, not just its appearance. It reminds me of other painters who were just as fascinated by capturing light and atmosphere, like the Impressionists. It’s like Piliuta is having a conversation with them across time, and with us too, inviting us to experience winter in a fresh way.