French door 1961

Panayiotis Tetsis built up this scene of a French door, probably with oils, bit by bit, with strokes of color that seem to float between observation and abstraction. The brushwork is so physical, you can almost feel the give and take, the adding and subtracting of paint. Looking closely, you can see how the shutters aren't just green, but a mix of greens and yellows, catching the light. The way the light hits the white pillar! And that little table, holding a vase of flowers, is practically vibrating with red energy. It’s like Tetsis is less interested in showing us a room and more focused on how light and color perform, how they create a sense of place through pure sensation. The whole thing reminds me of Bonnard, that push and pull between what we see and what we feel when we see it. It’s not about the perfect image, but the ongoing, messy, beautiful process of trying to capture a moment.