Boats on the Danube (Vâlcov) 1924

Nicolae Darascu’s ‘Boats on the Danube’ is an oil painting that seems to have been made in one sitting, a real splash-and-dash affair. The canvas has been attacked with gusto using a juicy, high-key palette of reds, blues, greens, and whites. I imagine Darascu, out in his boat, squinting at the scene, trying to capture the light as it flickers on the water. There is a white sail that’s particularly lovely – it’s just a few strokes of paint, but it shimmers, and it's surrounded by a hazy atmosphere that is very beautiful and evocative. The reflections in the water are also gorgeous. They mirror and distort the shapes above, creating this lovely sense of depth and movement. It makes me think of other painters such as Bonnard, who were also interested in capturing the fleeting effects of light and color. Ultimately, it reminds us that painting is an ongoing conversation; a form of embodied expression that embraces ambiguity and celebrates the endless possibilities of seeing.