Genesis #2 1934

Lorser Feitelson made this painting, Genesis #2, using oil paint; though when, I'm not sure. The muted, earthy colors make me think of a stage set, a kind of dream space, where things aren't quite what they seem. Look closely at the sliced melon, the lightbulb hanging precariously above, and that strange head-like object on the table. The paint is applied thinly, almost like a wash, giving the whole scene a hazy, otherworldly feel. The light in this painting, it's both there and not there, casting long, dramatic shadows that add to the mystery. It reminds me of De Chirico's eerie cityscapes. Feitelson's piece feels like an open-ended question, a puzzle with no clear solution, embracing the idea that art is about exploration, not explanation.