Bathing (Pastoral) 1923

Eugeniusz Zak made this painting, Bathing (Pastoral), with brushes and probably oil paint, but when exactly, we don’t know. What I find amazing is that it's not about the place, it’s about the act of painting itself. Look at the way the paint's applied, especially in the foliage of the tree. It's almost scrubbed on, creating this vibrating, textured surface that feels both solid and ephemeral, like a memory fading in and out of focus. Then there’s that nude figure, rendered in soft, muted tones, blending into the hazy landscape. The whole scene feels like a dream, or maybe a stage set. Zak was really interested in theatre design, and you can see that influence here. You might compare him to someone like Puvis de Chavannes, who also created these idyllic, melancholic scenes. Both artists remind us that art is a conversation, always referencing and reimagining what came before.