Pigsty 1934

Philipp Franck made this watercolor painting of a pigsty, and it's like he just splashed the scene onto the page. I'm thinking he must have been standing there, brush in hand, trying to capture the sheer bulk of these creatures. It's all soft washes of pinks, purples, and browns, blending together. The paint is so thin, it feels like the light is just passing right through it. Look how the dark purples and browns define the muddy ground, making the pigs look all the more weighty and comfortable. There's something so satisfying about how these simple colors capture the feeling of a warm, drowsy afternoon in a pigsty. Frank reminds me of other painters who were less interested in showing off technical skill and more in conveying a simple, direct impression of a scene. It's a reminder that art can be a conversation across time, inspiring us to see the world with fresh eyes.