Has Anything Happened? 1941

Istvan Farkas made "Has Anything Happened?" with oil paint, and honestly, the title just makes me want to ask a million questions. I see how Farkas builds up the image, especially the round table, with these strokes that aren't trying to hide. They're not blended into oblivion. You get the sense that the process of putting paint on the surface is just as important as what's being represented. Check out how the brushstrokes on the table seem to be almost coming toward us. It’s like the table is breathing, expanding, or maybe even collapsing. That’s the kind of energy that makes me think of Soutine, who could turn a still life into a wild, emotional landscape. With both of these guys, the still life becomes this portal into something way bigger and messier than just a bowl of fruit.