Untitled 

This untitled painting is by Ligia Macovei, who was working in Romania through much of the 20th century. Macovei has employed oil paint, which is very much a traditional choice. But note how she has thinned it down, using it almost like watercolor. This lends a gauzy effect, appropriate to the subject of bathers in a state of undress, at the border between inside and out. There is a sense of immediacy, as though she is painting quickly, keen to capture the light and the vulnerability of these figures. It’s interesting to consider the social context here: this is a culture that was, for many years, quite buttoned-down and conservative, yet Macovei has created a space for an image like this. And it seems, despite its quick handling, it was carefully wrought. The placement of the bodies; the way they turn and angle; the sharp geometry of the architecture framing them. This is a painting that earns its keep. It is a reminder that even the most time-honored materials and processes can yield original results.