Study of a Nude 1930 - 1932

Mikuláš Galanda made this painting of a nude, probably in oil, and the blues, grays, and peachy pinks are so muted. I just love the moment when a painter starts blocking out the general shapes and tones. You can sense Galanda figuring things out, trying to find the balance between light and dark, warm and cool. I like the way the paint isn’t too thick, but it’s also not super blended. I feel I can see each stroke, each decision. I can imagine Galanda thinking about Cezanne while making it. The way the forms are simplified, but still feel like a real body. And that dark, almost shadowy background makes the figure pop, but also gives it a kind of quiet mystery. It's like he's saying, "Here's what I see, but there's also so much I don't." And isn't that what painting is all about?