Gemini 1938

Victor Brauner made this oil painting of conjoined figures, titled 'Gemini', sometime in the 20th Century. The palette is constrained – pinks, greens, reds and yellows stand out against the dark blue background. There’s something so compelling about the rawness of Brauner’s painting, the way the figures are rendered with bold outlines and simplified forms. Look at the faces, each eye a different colour. I’m immediately reminded of Picasso’s analytic cubism, the fractured planes and multiple perspectives. Do you see the way Brauner uses thin washes of paint to create a sense of depth and texture? There are no concealed secrets here, you can clearly see his tools and process. In the end, the painting stays with you. It is a conversation starter, one artist speaking to another across time and space. It raises questions rather than providing answers.