The Little Church of Cephalonia 1925

Konstantinos Parthenis painted "The Little Church of Cephalonia" with oils, and likely a lot of feeling. There's a directness here, like Parthenis wasn't trying to trick us with illusion, but was instead embracing the flatness of the canvas. Look how the paint is applied in these blocky forms. It’s like he’s building the image up, piece by piece, color by color. The trees are so solid, almost architectural. They're not soft and leafy, but geometric, strong. I'm drawn to the way the blue sky meets the green trees. The colors feel both natural and totally invented, like a dreamscape. It reminds me a little of Milton Avery, with that same dedication to simple forms and emotionally resonant color. Art's just this ongoing conversation, right? Everyone riffing on each other, trying to make sense of the world in their own way.