The Color of Claret Belongs to Us 1931

Azim Azimzade made "The Color of Claret Belongs to Us" in 1931, and it's like looking into a world rendered with real urgency. The colors are laid down with a directness that shouts from the rooftops; there's no messing around here! The texture in this piece has this immediacy that is very exciting, with colors slightly bleeding into one another, unblended and honest. There's something about the way the architectural structures in the background fade into each other, like the drawing is trying to remember a story, but doesn’t have all the details. That central figure, in distress, caught in this bold green embrace, is striking against the crowd in their elaborate hats, pointing and watching, like in a stage play. It's a visceral, emotional punch, the kind that makes you catch your breath. It puts me in mind of Kathe Kollwitz, another artist who wasn’t afraid to dive into the heavy stuff, and just like her, Azimzade reminds us that art doesn't always have to be pretty, it has to be real.