Two angels 1936 - 1937

Mikuláš Galanda made "Two Angels" with crayon and ink, and the sweetness of the mark-making reminds us of artmaking as a process of child-like curiosity. The crayon brings a lovely texture to the surface, doesn't it? Look at how the pink and blue lines of crayon give us a sense of the angels floating in space, like little gusts of wind. The drawing is outlined in thin black ink, which gives the piece definition but also a playful quality. I love how the artist used yellow crayon to fill in the angels' bellies, it creates an internal light, like they're glowing from within. You can almost see the artist's hand moving across the paper, creating these simple yet expressive forms. Galanda's work reminds me of Paul Klee, who also embraced a kind of naive figuration in his work. "Two Angels" feels like a doodle, but it also feels deeply felt. It embraces ambiguity, leaving space for multiple interpretations, and reminding us that art is an ongoing conversation.