Mother and Son 1911

Max Oppenheimer made this painting, Mother and Son, with oil, probably alla prima, so you can see all his moves! The color palette is very muted, almost monochromatic, with lots of browns and tans. It makes me think about process, about painting being a record of touch. Looking closely, you can see how Oppenheimer builds the forms with small, gestural brushstrokes. The surface is really active, with the texture of the canvas peeking through in places. It’s like he's trying to capture the feeling of intimacy between the mother and child. The way they are nestled together, a symphony of brown impasto. Look at how he renders their hands. Notice how the details are soft, almost blurry, like he’s not trying to capture every wrinkle and bone. Instead, he's after something more essential, something more emotional. This is reminiscent of Paula Modersohn-Becker, but, more expressionistic. What's so great about art is that it isn't about answers, but about opening up new questions.