Blumenstillleben 1910

Cuno Amiet made this painting, Blumenstillleben, with oil paints and it’s an explosion of thick brushstrokes. It looks like he had a blast layering colors, like dabs of reds, pinks, yellows, and whites, over that deep green background. Imagine Amiet, totally absorbed, building up these blossoms one stroke at a time. I love the texture, how the paint almost stands up off the canvas. He's not just copying what he sees but really feeling it, you know? There's an energy in the way the brush moves. And the way the flowers jostle in the vase, like they are having a party. I think about other painters, Van Gogh comes to mind, who also went for it with flowers. But Amiet's got his own vibe. It’s like he’s saying, "Yeah, flowers, but let’s make them sing!" We are all in conversation, us painters.