Ajaccio I 1959

Richard Mortensen made this painting, Ajaccio I, with what looks like oil on canvas, and you know, it's all about how the colours bump up against each other and create these funny shapes. It's like he's saying, “Hey, let's see what happens if we just push things around a bit.” There’s this one spot, that blob of burgundy, it's like a dark cloud hanging over the bright yellow. And then there’s this angular red shape down in the corner. It’s like a little spark of energy, trying to break free from all the other stuff. It’s not just about colours, it’s about feelings too, right? The textures are smooth, almost flat, and that makes the colours even more intense, like they’re shouting at you. Mortensen reminds me a little of Leger, also doing his own thing with shapes and colours. It’s like they’re having a conversation across time, each adding their own voice to the mix. It's this beautiful, messy conversation that never really ends.