Ziedonis 1930

Vilhelms Purvitis made this lively painting, Ziedonis, with oil on canvas. Look at how he builds up the blossoms with these little dabs of paint, like he’s trying to catch the feeling of spring in action. The thing I love about paint is that it’s so physical, you can really feel the artist in it. Purvitis isn’t shy about letting you see his process. The surface is alive with these little marks – greens, blues and whites jostling each other. See how he uses those cool violets and blues in the foreground shadows? I bet he mixed them wet-on-wet, right there on the canvas, building up this gorgeous field of color. It’s not just a field, it’s a whole world buzzing with energy. Purvitis reminds me a bit of Monet, but with a rawer edge. Both artists use these broken colors to create a sense of light and atmosphere, but Purvitis feels more grounded, maybe a bit more wild, and that’s a good thing. Art isn’t about perfection, it’s about feeling.