Don Quixote in an armchair 1934

Zygmunt Waliszewski painted 'Don Quixote in an armchair' with oil on canvas, and it’s the material qualities of oil paint that really sing out to me here. Look at the way he's built up the surface with brushstrokes, each dab and swirl of pigment contributing to a vibrant, almost feverish energy. The texture is thick in places, creating a tactile quality that invites you to reach out and touch the canvas. It's clear that Waliszewski wasn't interested in illusionism. Instead, he embraced the inherent qualities of the oil, reveling in its viscosity and luminosity. Waliszewski likely used brushes of varying sizes and stiffness to achieve this range of effects. The choice of canvas as a support also speaks to a tradition of fine art painting. Yet, the expressive handling of the medium elevates the work beyond mere representation. Ultimately, 'Don Quixote in an armchair' is a testament to the transformative power of materials, and the ways in which artistic processes can imbue a work with meaning and emotion.