Muž v klobouku 1914

Josef Capek made this painting, Muž v klobouku, which translates as ‘Man in a Hat’, with oil on canvas. The painting's a cool blend of blues and grays, punctuated by a single, staring eye. I imagine Capek layering the paint, letting the geometric shapes emerge like some strange, masked figure. What was he thinking, conjuring this character with such restraint? The paint's applied smoothly, each brushstroke deliberate, building up the angular planes of the face and hat. It reminds me of early cubist portraits, but with a softer edge. I think Capek’s been looking at Picasso and Braque, but he’s doing his own thing, using those forms to explore something more psychological, maybe even a bit unsettling. Painters are always in conversation. They are constantly reinterpreting ideas and breathing new life into them.