The Bersaglieri 1918

George Luks made this painting of The Bersaglieri with oil on canvas, and what strikes me is the artist's confidence in capturing a parade with so much movement! Look at how he's built up the image in layers, with a strong horizon line and a bold use of reds and greens that really pop. The materiality of this work is so present, isn't it? The paint is applied with such visible strokes, giving the whole scene a sense of immediacy and energy. It's like he's trying to capture the fleeting moment of the parade, the vibrancy of the flags and uniforms, right there on the canvas. The way the light catches the edges of the buildings and the tops of the hats – it’s all about capturing that sense of a moment in time. Luks reminds me a little of Manet, in the way he's able to convey a scene with such economy of means. Both artists have this incredible ability to suggest detail without actually rendering it, inviting us to fill in the gaps with our own imaginations.