Head of a boy in a hat 1921

Tadeusz Makowski made this “Head of a boy in a hat” with a flurry of brushstrokes. The process is laid bare for us to see. Check out the surface, the paint isn't trying to hide, it's all built up with such energy. The textures combine to almost feel like the painting is moving. It's not about perfect representation. Look at how the brushstrokes around the mouth seem to suggest a smile, but it’s not fixed or definite. It's like Makowski is trying to catch something fleeting, an emotion perhaps. It puts me in mind of Soutine, someone else who wasn't afraid to let the paint do the talking. With both these painters, their commitment to exploring the potential of their materials opens a door for us. It’s an invitation to see the world, not as it is, but as it could be.