The Red Parasol 1904

Matej Sternen built this image with oil paint, into a world of vibrant greens and a blazing red parasol. I wonder if Sternen started with that umbrella, and how its intense color sparked the rest of the painting. Imagine the artist standing there, brush in hand, trying to capture the light filtering through the trees. The paint is applied in quick, confident strokes, a dance between observation and feeling. Look at how the green is not just one shade, but a mix of tones that vibrate against the red. It’s like he’s trying to bottle the very essence of a summer’s day, the warmth, the shade, the gentle breeze. This isn’t just a picture, it’s a conversation. Sternen is in dialogue with the Impressionists, with their love of light and color, but he’s also speaking in his own voice, a voice that’s bold, expressive, and deeply personal. He is showing that we can make our own weather and that these objects we create can continue the dialogue between us all.