Waterfall IV 2002

Romul Nutiu made this painting, Waterfall IV, at an unknown date, likely with oils. Look at those strokes – short, choppy, and full of energy. It’s like he’s wrestling with the paint, not just applying it. You can feel the artist's hand in every mark. The texture is amazing, isn’t it? Thick impasto in some spots, thin washes in others. I love how the white paint clumps together, almost like real water cascading down rocks. The black areas are so solid in contrast, they really give the image structure. Notice the strokes of green and yellow peeking through – little pops of life amidst all the chaos. That upper area, where the blacks, pinks, and purples meet, is particularly fascinating. It feels both abstract and representational, like a memory of a waterfall rather than a photograph. Nutiu reminds me a little bit of Joan Mitchell, with the way she uses color and gesture to evoke a sense of place and emotion. It's a reminder that art is always a conversation.