The Way Home 1930

Francisc Sirato probably used pastels to make this dreamy image, mixing those powdery colours to evoke a feeling rather than a place. I like the way the black shape of the figure creates a visual anchor in the scene. You can see the loose, gestural marks that give the painting a sense of movement and immediacy, like Sirato was working quickly, trying to capture a fleeting impression. The color palette is muted, mostly earth tones with pops of brighter colours here and there – that red and yellow really sing. I wonder, was he thinking about Bonnard? Or maybe Vuillard? I bet those guys were talking shop... I can imagine Sirato working on this outside, squinting in the light to capture that feeling of the sun, and the walk home after a long day. What do you think?