Flower RETRO IMAGE - DinksFãStan Private Collection 1969

This small painting of a flower was made by Gregoire Boonzaier, though we don't know exactly when. You can tell he's not trying to trick you into thinking this is real, right? The paint is so thick and luscious, it almost feels edible. Look at that glob of white on the rose! He isn't holding back, and the surface is built up with layers and layers of buttery pigment. The way he's dragged the brush across the canvas gives it this cool, active feel, like the painting is breathing. There's this one dark green leaf in the lower left, how it’s so immediate and present. It's like he's saying, "Here I am, here's my brush, here's the paint, here's the flower." Thinking about other artists, I'm reminded of someone like Giorgio Morandi, who also found endless inspiration in simple, everyday objects. Ultimately, though, it's about the way Boonzaier takes something so familiar and makes it completely new, full of life and energy.