Pavasaris. 1974

Guntis Strupulis made this painting, “Pavasaris” or “Spring” in oil on canvas and the muted colors, browns, greens, and grays, give it a melancholic feel. It’s all about the mood, right? How the artist captured a specific moment, maybe a memory, with each brushstroke. The paint looks applied in thin layers, creating a smooth surface that almost feels like you could touch it without leaving a mark. But look closer, and you can see how he built up the forms. The textures in the foreground, especially the muddy patches of earth peeking through the snow, have this beautiful layering. The details in the background are softened and diffused, giving the whole thing an air of nostalgia. I find it fascinating how Strupulis captures a sense of everyday life. It puts me in mind of Fairfield Porter, who also painted the familiar. It reminds us that art is always in conversation, across time, across different sensibilities. And maybe it's not about pinning down one single meaning, but about embracing the ambiguity, the openness, the possibilities.