Funeral 1937

Ivan Generalic’s painting, “Funeral,” presents a scene rendered with the clear, bright colours of folk art. The palette is earthy, yet heightened, each colour asserting itself with a kind of innocent confidence. The surface of this painting has a tactile quality; you can almost feel the grain of the canvas beneath the paint. The application is straightforward, without any tricks. The figures are outlined with a steady hand, filled in with colours that are more descriptive than illusionistic. Look at the faces of the mourners. Each one is given individual attention, their expressions ranging from grief to stoic resignation. Their eyes, though simple dots, convey deep emotions, drawing us into their world. The dark swirling clouds in the background seem to echo the turmoil within the figures. Generalic's work reminds me of Henri Rousseau, another artist who embraced a self-taught approach to painting. Both artists found beauty in simplicity, turning away from academic conventions to create images that speak directly to the soul. Art isn't always about complexity, sometimes it's about finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.