Stage design for Don Juan by André Obey 1939

This stage design for Don Juan by Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas, probably made with gouache or tempera, is full of bright, flat colours. I love how the architectural details are rendered with such playful simplicity. Look at how Ghikas uses thin layers of paint, almost like washes, to build up the forms. The texture isn't about impasto or thick brushstrokes, but rather the layering of colour and the delicate suggestion of detail. Take, for instance, the little red accents on the stage canopy – they're like tiny sparks of energy that bring the whole composition to life. The process feels almost intuitive, like he's discovering the scene as he paints it. The whole thing reminds me a bit of Dufy, but with a more Mediterranean sensibility. It’s art as a vibrant, ongoing conversation. Like theatre, it embraces multiple interpretations, inviting us to imagine our own version of the story.