Geranium 1940

Kmetty János made this painting of a Geranium sometime in the 20th century, using brushstrokes that feel both deliberate and spontaneous. The colors, while grounded in reality, lean towards an expressive vibrancy, capturing the essence of the scene rather than a photographic likeness. The materiality of the piece is striking; János uses layers of color to build depth. Look at how the blues and greens of the outdoors seep into the leaves, creating a beautiful tension with the red flowers. The texture isn’t concealed; you can see the individual strokes, especially in the background, which gives the piece a lively, almost vibrating quality. There's a sense of the artist grappling with the paint, pushing it around to find the image within. It reminds me a bit of Matisse, who also wasn’t afraid to let color do the heavy lifting. János isn't trying to give us a definitive statement. Instead, he invites us into a visual conversation, a shared experience of seeing and feeling.