In the Garden 1930

Ipolit Strambu created "In the Garden" with oil on canvas, and immediately you see his love for dappled light and loose brushwork. It’s clear Strambu isn’t trying to capture a scene perfectly, but instead is more interested in the feeling of a sunny afternoon gathering. The painting has a beautiful textured surface. The brushstrokes are small and impressionistic, especially in the clothes of the figures, where blues, yellows, and whites blend. Look at the way the sunlight hits the man’s back, there’s a real sense of warmth radiating from that spot. Notice how the figures sit in contrast to the foliage behind them, which is more blended and less defined, adding to a dreamlike quality. Strambu’s work reminds me of the French Impressionist, Camille Pissarro, who also focused on painting scenes from everyday life with similar brushstrokes and interest in capturing the transience of light. What is so nice about art is the way artists build on each others ideas over time.