Geranium 1940

Kmetty János made this painting, Geranium, with a flurry of painterly marks that capture a burst of flowers in their pot. The painting feels so immediate, like it came together in one sitting, but I bet it didn’t! There must have been a lot of back and forth, a dance of intuition and correction as the artist found their way. Look at the color: blues and greens compete with flashes of red, vying for our attention. It’s as if János was thinking about the relationship between the domestic and the wild, bringing the garden inside. That blue against the window frame, it’s so alive. You can almost feel János smearing the paint, trying to capture the exact quality of the light. The geranium isn't just a plant, it's a conversation between János and all the other artists who have tried to capture the fleeting beauty of life. Painting always puts me in touch with other artists across time.