Weiße Rosen II c. 1925

Carl Moll painted these roses – Weiße Rosen II – at some point in his career, and it's a lesson in letting the brush lead. Look at the way the colors meet; it's all soft edges, like a memory of looking. There's a real physicality to the paint here, thick and juicy in some spots, like the heart of a rose, and almost transparent in the shadows. You can practically feel the bristles of the brush as Moll built up those layers, especially in the foreground, where the fallen petals rest on what looks like a polished table. Each dab and stroke feels deliberate, but not fussy. See how the green of the bowl pops? It’s like a little jolt of energy amidst all the softness. Moll reminds me a little of Vuillard, actually, with his intimate domestic scenes, but there's something a bit more raw and immediate here. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most beautiful thing you can do is just let the paint do its thing.