Interior with Woman 1941

Alexandru Ciucurencu made this 'Interior with Woman' sometime in the 20th century with what looks like oil on canvas. The colours and shapes feel really considered, but also kind of thrown down, you know? It’s like he’s figured out how to capture a fleeting moment, with a brush. The surface has this lovely texture, not too thick, but you can definitely see and feel the brushstrokes. I'm drawn to how the figure in orange melts into the red background. It’s not really clear where the figure ends and the space begins, there’s this cool flattening effect. The brushwork around the face and hand is also beautiful; Ciucurencu uses a variety of brushstrokes and colours to describe form. The hat on the wall is almost comically flat. This feels really connected to the way Matisse was pushing the boundaries of colour and form, making a space that is both decorative and deeply intimate. For me, Ciucurencu's painting is like a reminder that art is really about exploring possibilities, more than making statements.