Parc Sous La Lune 1940

Roderic O'Conor conjured this nocturnal scene, *Parc Sous La Lune*, with oils, using a dark palette where the indigo sky meets the black of the treeline. I imagine him layering those colors on the canvas, building up the scene in soft, tentative strokes until the entire composition began to glow with its own inner light. I feel as though O’Conor and I are kindred spirits, as I consider the surface of a painting a site of inquiry. Here, the surface vibrates with uncertainty. See how the light is handled? The moon glows dimly behind the dark branches, and lower down a single figure is illuminated in the darkness. Perhaps the artist was working from memory or just freely inventing, moving colors around to make a new reality. It's like O’Conor is whispering to me, reminding me that painting isn't about answers; it's about exploring the possibilities, and allowing the unexpected to emerge.