Fox 1918

'Fox' was made by Niko Pirosmani in the late 19th or early 20th century. It’s oil on oilcloth, and what I love about it is its directness. I can imagine Pirosmani painting this quickly, trying to capture the animal’s essence with just a few strokes. The brown hues give it a sense of earthiness, but then that stark black background adds a dramatic tension. Look at how the fox is caught mid-stride, all lean muscle and focused energy. It’s not overly detailed, but there’s something so vital about it. I see echoes of folk art traditions here, with the simplicity and rawness of the brushwork. It reminds me of other self-taught artists who embraced intuition over academic training. I think artists like Pirosmani show us that painting is not just about technique. It’s about feeling, about connecting with something real and immediate. And sometimes, that’s more than enough.