Angels 1924

Giovanni Boldini made this painting, Angels, using oil on canvas. The swirling, frenetic brushwork is immediately striking. It's like he’s trying to capture not just what angels look like, but the very feeling of encountering one. The browns and ochres create a warm, earthy base, but then he slashes through it with these bright, almost electric yellows and whites. Look at the way the strokes are laid down – so quick and decisive. It gives the whole scene a sense of movement, like these angels are caught in a whirlwind, or maybe they themselves are the whirlwind. The texture is palpable; you can almost feel the bristles of the brush hitting the canvas. There's a real kinship between Boldini’s approach and someone like Franz Kline, both using gesture to convey raw emotion. Ultimately, this painting isn't about perfect representation. It's about capturing a fleeting, ineffable experience.