Landscape 1912

Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso gave us this Landscape, painted with oils. It's like he took a scene and then shook it up, cubist style. The colours are muted – soft greens, browns, and creams – and they kind of blend together, blurring the distinction between objects. There's something about the way he's handled the paint that's interesting. The brushstrokes are visible but blended. There's a tower in the middle ground, constructed from simple geometric shapes, and it's echoed by the masts of the boats in the foreground. These vertical elements contrast with the curves of the water. Souza-Cardoso reminds me of someone like Marsden Hartley. There's a similar interest in breaking down form. But while Hartley’s work often feels heavy, Souza-Cardoso’s paintings feel light and airy. It's like he's inviting us to piece together our own reality. Art doesn't have to be a mirror; it can be a lens.