CART FULL OF FOOLS 1988

René Marcil made this painting, ‘Cart Full of Fools’, with paint on canvas, and what strikes me right away is the directness of his marks, the urgency, like he had to get this down fast. I love how the paint is so present, not blended to hide the strokes. You can see the energy in each brushstroke. Look at the cart itself, how the black paint is dragged down the canvas, thick and wet. There's no attempt to hide the process. It’s like he’s saying, "Here's the paint, here's the gesture, deal with it!". And those skulls! They're not trying to be scary, just sort of…there. The way he layers them, one on top of another, adds to the chaotic feel. Marcil reminds me a bit of Guston, in his later years, embracing this raw, almost childlike style, but with a dark humor bubbling beneath. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be pretty or perfect; it just has to be real.