Blue window 1991

Eugene Brands made this painting, "Blue Window," with what looks like gouache or maybe thinned acrylic, creating something that feels both immediate and timeless. The process here is so visible; you can see each brushstroke, each decision laid bare. I love how the blue is not just a color but a space, a mood. It's thick in some areas, almost like a wall, and then thin and washy in others, giving the impression of light filtering through. The white, streaky form in the upper right is like a burst of energy, a kind of ethereal presence, pointing like an arrow from the window. This is mirrored by an amorphous blob in the lower left, the two like bookends of the composition. Brands' work reminds me a little of Joan Miró, in that both artists share a playful approach to form, yet Brands strips everything down to its barest essence, inviting us to find our own stories within his simple, powerful gestures. Is it a cloud, a memory, or just a feeling? It's all up for grabs, and that's what makes it so exciting.