Running deer 

Niko Pirosmani created this evocative painting of a running deer using oil on oilcloth, a material more often found in utilitarian settings than fine art. Pirosmani wasn't formally trained; he was a self-taught artist who often worked on commission for taverns and shops in Tbilisi, Georgia. The oilcloth substrate, typically used for tablecloths or signage, speaks to Pirosmani’s direct engagement with the commercial world around him, and to the circumstances of his practice. The visible texture of the oilcloth, combined with Pirosmani’s expressive brushwork, gives the painting a raw, immediate quality. The simplified form of the deer, rendered in warm, earthy tones, stands out against the dark background. Its upward gaze and forward motion communicate a sense of freedom. This isn’t just a painting of a deer; it’s an artifact of a particular time and place, reflecting the artist's lived experience and his unique approach to making art, blurring the lines between the so-called 'fine' and 'applied' arts.