Metro 1964

Julio Pomar made this painting, Metro, at an unknown date using brushstrokes, a beige background, and some darker hues, which all gives the impression of a moving train. The beige colour in this painting provides a beautiful neutral base for the darker elements to dance upon, and the addition of white streaks gives dynamism to the piece. I love the way that Pomar leaves the surface looking kind of raw, like he's unafraid to show his working. You can see those marks where the brush has skidded or the paint has dripped. It's all part of the story. I'm particularly drawn to those black, angular shapes. They look like bits of broken machinery, or maybe abstracted figures jostling for space. They create a sense of tension and energy. It reminds me of Franz Kline, another artist who wasn't afraid to embrace the rough and tumble of the painting process. I like the way that it captures the feeling of constant activity of a Metro station in an abstracted way.