Balcony Figure 1982

This painting, Balcony Figure, by Roland Petersen has a real boldness to it, right? The artist's not afraid to lay down some thick, juicy paint. I love seeing that, it's like the paint itself is having a conversation with the scene. The checkerboard in the foreground is so vibrant, and those blues, greens, and reds are just singing together. The way Petersen handles the paint – you can almost feel the brushstrokes, thick and confident, especially in the table pattern. It's not about hiding the process, it's about celebrating the physicality of paint. The figure herself is almost like a shadow, a silhouette, gazing out at the landscape. And that landscape, simplified into these blocks of color, feels both familiar and abstract. Reminds me a little of Milton Avery and his explorations of simplified form. Ultimately, the painting embraces this lovely ambiguity, inviting you to wander through its colors and forms, making your own connections.