Le couronnement du peintre 1991

Nicolae Maniu made 'Le couronnement du peintre' with oils, layering image on image. We see an artist emerging from the canvas, being crowned by a golden hat - it's like he's both the creator and the subject, caught in a loop. I can imagine Maniu, brush in hand, contemplating the role of the artist: the painter, the canvas, the act of making... he's questioning how much of the artist is in the art. The skin tones are so realistic, but then there's this break in the canvas, a tear. The white feels thick. It's like the man’s literally breaking through the surface, or the painting’s breaking into our reality. This piece reminds me that making art isn't just about skill—it's about asking questions, breaking boundaries, and daring to show what's underneath. Like the paintings of Francis Bacon, Maniu places the body at the centre of his practice. It feels like an invitation to look beyond what we expect.