Autumn 1913

Rik Wouters made this painting, titled "Autumn," with oil on canvas, though its exact date remains a mystery. Looking at "Autumn," I'm struck by Wouters' bold approach to color and form; it feels like he’s building the world with layers of paint. The colors aren't trying to be realistic; instead, they're pushing against each other, creating this vibrant, almost electric energy. The paint is applied in visible strokes, thick in some areas, thin in others. I keep returning to that blue scarf; it is such a simple block of color, but it really anchors the whole painting. Wouters reminds me a little of Bonnard, especially in his use of domestic interiors and his interest in capturing fleeting moments of light and color. But where Bonnard is all about softness and atmosphere, Wouters has this raw, almost aggressive energy. Ultimately, it's this tension—between observation and invention, representation and abstraction—that makes Wouters' work so compelling.