Paysage 1942

Jimmy Ernst made this dreamlike painting, Paysage, with oils, and it feels like a stage set for something strange. The colors are muted, almost like old photographs, except for these sudden bursts of bright red and yellow, which really pull you in. You can see Ernst layering the paint, especially in the way he builds up the forms, giving them a texture that's almost geological. Look at the upper part of the canvas, the layers of paint feel like organic matter. Then there's the contrast with the smooth, almost polished surface, especially in the background. It's all these contrasts, between smooth and rough, light and dark, that make this piece so compelling. Ernst is in conversation with artists like Yves Tanguy who explored similar surreal landscapes. But ultimately it feels like he's searching, not just for a new way to paint a landscape, but for a new way to experience the world.