Reflection of Absence 1990

Richards Ruben, sometime in the 20th century, made this atmospheric painting with oils, building up layers of colour and texture. Imagine the act of painting itself. Has it emerged through trial, error, and intuition? I sympathize with the artist, imagining what it might have been like to create this. What might he have been thinking? The surface is built up, the paint has a powdery thickness. Looking at that curved brushstroke, you can imagine his arm arcing across the canvas, the brush dancing and leaving its mark. It’s like a calligraphic gesture, decisive but also light, almost playful. Ruben’s paintings often deal with light and space. It's as if he’s inviting us to contemplate the transient nature of existence. It's a reminder that artists are in an ongoing conversation, inspiring each other’s creativity across time. Painting is a form of embodied expression, embracing ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations.