The Red Fish 1921

Louis Marcoussis made this painting, titled The Red Fish, using oil on canvas. It's this collection of rectangles, squares, and bits of circles in a muted color palette. Looking at the surface, you can see the paint has a life of its own. It’s not about hiding the strokes; it’s about letting them be what they are. The textures are really varied; some areas are almost transparent, while others are thick. The colors feel like they’ve been mixed and remixed, each layer telling a story. See that red smudge at the top of the piece? It’s the titular red fish, but it’s also just this daub of paint doing its thing, pushing against the blue. It's not so much about what it is but how it moves and sits within the painting. I'm reminded of Braque with this piece. It is about the conversation and exchange of ideas more than the fixed meaning.