Schlosshof 1912

Leo Putz laid down the oil paint to make Schlosshof with short, choppy strokes. It's like he's not trying to hide the process, but inviting you to see how the image comes together, bit by bit. Up close, you can see how Putz used these little dabs of color to build up the textures of the leaves and the walls. The paint is thick in places, almost sculptural, especially in the greenery where he’s used dashes of yellow and orange to catch the light. Look at the way the brushstrokes follow the forms, giving shape and volume to everything. I love how he captures the feeling of a sunny day without getting all fussy with details. It reminds me of some of the early Fauvist painters, like Maurice de Vlaminck, who were also interested in using bold color and expressive brushwork to capture the energy of a scene. It’s all about feeling, rather than perfect representation. And isn’t that what art is all about? Leaving room for your own experience, your own interpretation?