Pheasant 1985

Viorel Marginean made this painting of a pheasant, rendered with visible brushstrokes and a warm, earthy palette. It’s clear that for Marginean, painting isn’t just about depicting a bird; it’s about the act of applying paint, and celebrating the materiality of it. The painting is full of subtle textures, achieved through layers of thin, transparent washes and thicker, more opaque strokes. Look at the way the feathers are suggested with individual daubs of orange, brown, and yellow – each mark distinct, yet blending together to create the illusion of form and depth. I really appreciate the way Marginean uses color to evoke an emotional response; the muted tones create a sense of tranquility and stillness, as if we’re observing this pheasant in its natural habitat. And those grasses; they're almost abstract in their simplicity, yet they perfectly convey the sense of the animal's environment. This piece reminds me a little of Milton Avery, who also knew how to use simple shapes and colors to capture the essence of a scene. It's a nice reminder that art is an ongoing conversation between artists across time, each building on the ideas of those who came before.