Untitled (Flower) 1940

Magda Feher made this Untitled flower piece using, what looks like, gouache or tempera on paper. The way she’s laid down these blocks of color makes me think about process, about the decisions you make as you try to capture something real on a flat surface. Look at how the white petals of the main flower contrast with the muted greens and browns of the background. This isn't about perfectly replicating nature, but about finding a balance between observation and abstraction. The flower almost floats, doesn’t it? The texture is smooth, with no visible brushstrokes, giving it a clean, almost graphic quality. And notice the smaller flowers at the top. For me, this piece talks to the way we see, how we simplify and rearrange the world in our minds. It reminds me a little of some of Alex Katz’s paintings actually, especially in its bold simplification of form. It’s about embracing the freedom to interpret and not just imitate.