Blotter 1913

Josef Capek made this oil painting, titled 'Blotter', using traditional materials, and with a very particular approach. If you look closely at this painting, you’ll notice the monochromatic colour scheme, with muted tones and stark contrasts, enhancing the geometric qualities of the Cubist style. You can also see how the application of the paint is quite gestural and expressive. Capek has used broad brushstrokes and thick layers of paint to build up the image, creating texture and depth on the canvas. What does this mean? Well, Cubism was partly about showing how labor was itself being fractured and reassembled by industrial production. The way Capek applied the paint – almost like a machine – is part of the message. So next time you’re looking at a painting, remember that the artist’s hand, their way of applying material, is crucial to the overall meaning. The way something is made is just as important as what it depicts.