Chlapec v matrózových šatách 1916

Jozef Hanula painted this portrait of a boy in a sailor suit in 1916. It feels like a painting from life, and you can see the brushstrokes, how Hanula built up the image with layers of thin paint. Look at the boy's face, the way the light catches his cheek, and the darks define his features. The paint is thin, almost translucent, in places, allowing the primed canvas to shine through. The textures of the curtain and the boy’s clothes are handled in a painterly way, with visible brushstrokes, it’s like Hanula is saying: “Hey, this is paint!” The way Hanula captured the light and shadow is interesting and reminiscent of Édouard Manet’s portraits; both painters embrace the beauty of imperfection and invite us to see the world with fresh eyes. Ultimately, this portrait is a testament to the enduring power of painting as a means of capturing not just the likeness of a person, but also their spirit.