Flowers in a clay flower-vase 1932

Tadeusz Makowski made this painting of flowers in a clay vase with oil on canvas. You can tell from the density of the colours that he's layered them, almost like he’s building it up, brick by brick. It’s not about getting it right first time, it’s about working through it. I love the way the surface feels uneven and slightly rough, because it makes the colours more vibrant, like a mosaic. Look at the book at the bottom of the painting, it looks like it’s been constructed with small square dabs, creating a sense of texture and light. The redness of the vase is echoed in the highlights of the flowers, connecting these elements across the composition. Makowski’s got something of Bonnard about him. You can see this in the domestic subject matter and the intimacy of the setting. But where Bonnard uses light and colour to create a hazy dreamscape, Makowski brings a sense of grounded materiality. It's proof that art is an ongoing conversation.