Metallic Vibrations c. 1915 - 1916

Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso made this painting, Metallic Vibrations, using oil on canvas and a whole lotta intuition. The colours are muted, earthy - ochre, olive, teal - but there is a definite metallic zing to it, like the cool glint of polished brass. Imagine Amadeo in his studio, brush in hand, building up this world of interlocking forms. I love the way he's not afraid to let the painting breathe. The brushstrokes aren't trying to hide, they're part of the story, kind of wobbly and wonky. He’s a master of organised chaos, and the way he balances the composition is no easy feat. It reminds me a bit of Leger, a contemporary also interested in the figure/ground relationship of geometric form, yet very much his own thing. That little squiggly red line near the centre of the canvas? That's pure feeling right there. It’s like he's signing the painting with his whole body. With this painting Amadeo is reminding us that art is an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas across time, and that we're all invited to the party.