Decalcomania 1946

This 'Decalcomania' by Enrico Donati feels like it was coaxed into existence through a kind of material collaboration, layer upon layer. The surface has this incredible texture, built with thick, opaque paint. You can see the physicality of the medium, almost like Donati was wrestling with the paint, pushing and pulling it across the surface. Look closely, and you can almost see the ghost of the tools he used. I love the way the paint drags, forming ridges and valleys, like a topographical map of some unknown planet. There's one particular stroke, running diagonally across the center, where the paint thins out, revealing the support beneath. It's like a crack in the surface, a glimpse into the hidden layers of the painting. It reminds me of Gerhard Richter’s squeegee paintings, where the artist embraces chance and allows the material to take the lead. Both artists create these ambiguous, atmospheric surfaces that invite endless interpretation. Ultimately, it's about embracing the unexpected and finding beauty in the messy, unpredictable nature of the creative process.