Nightmare 1921

Georgi Mashev's "Nightmare" is rendered with dark oil paint, worked into the canvas in loose, fluid strokes. You can see the artist's hand moving quickly, with purpose. I can only imagine the intense emotions and thoughts swirling in Mashev’s mind when he was making this painting. There’s the raw vulnerability of the figure in repose, and then that demon crouching over her, its wings fanning out like a shroud. The tension is palpable, isn’t it? The colour palette is kept to browns, greys and a sickly yellow, which creates a sense of dread and unease. Notice the impasto strokes on the demon’s face - they convey a sense of grotesque energy. It reminds me of Goya's darker works; both artists are delving into the shadowy corners of the human psyche. Painters like Mashev invite us to confront the mysteries of the human experience. It’s a conversation across time and space, each artist inspiring the next to keep pushing the boundaries of expression.