Tahiťanka 1920 - 1930

Mikuláš Galanda made this painting, "Tahiťanka," with what looks like watercolour, and ink, or maybe gouache – it’s hard to tell. What strikes me is the contrast between the bold outlines and the washes of delicate, diluted colours. Like in that main figure, the way the planes of her face are mapped out with crisp dark lines, then gently filled with the soft hues of a tanned skin. The layering of these transparent colours creates a sense of depth, but it's all very flat, very intentional. I wonder, what kind of brush did Galanda use to achieve this effect? Something fine, but also soft, to blend the colours so smoothly. It reminds me a little of Gauguin, actually. Both artists were interested in portraying an idealised vision of a ‘native’ culture, and like Gauguin, Galanda probably wasn't even from Tahiti. But the image they created speaks more to the power of imagination and the endless potential of art to reframe our understanding of the world.