Irises in a white flower-vase 1920

Tadeusz Makowski made this painting of irises in a vase with oil on canvas. Look at how the painting is built up. It's not about smooth blending; each stroke feels purposeful, like a little decision. The colors are soft, muted, almost like a memory. The vase itself, with its delicate floral design, feels like a character in the scene, not just a container. Focus on the brushwork around the vase. See how Makowski uses short, choppy strokes, building up a textured surface that catches the light. It’s like he's not just painting what he sees, but how he feels, and that’s what makes it so alive. You could almost see Cézanne doing something like this, worrying away at those surfaces. Paintings like this remind us that art isn't about perfection, but about the process of seeing and feeling, and how we translate that onto canvas.