Septième sens 1948

Victor Brauner made "Septième sens" with paint on board, and look at the movement! I see the making, the shift and emerge of forms through trial, error, and intuition. The painting is raw, it’s got a real folk art energy to it, but at the same time I feel the painter reaching for the avant-garde—all the while staying true to a very personal vision. I can really sympathize with Brauner as he paints. The flat planes, the thick outlines, it makes me wonder what he was thinking when he made it. The way the figures all grasp each other, and that snake with the fish in its jaws, could be a clue. The colors are earthy, but not drab. They’ve got a zing, a real kick to them. It’s like Brauner’s saying something essential, but in a way that’s open to interpretation. I feel like he’s in conversation with all of us, and with a whole bunch of other artists across time, inspiring creativity.