Kraków crib 1906

Tadeusz Makowski made this painting of a Kraków crib. The way Makowski lays down these thick, clotted marks suggests a real investment in the act of painting. It’s like he’s saying, ‘Hey, look at this gloppy stuff!’. But instead of being messy, there’s something incredibly tender about it. The browns and blues aren’t just colors, they’re feelings, memories. I find myself drawn to the top right corner where the darkness of the night sky is punctuated by tiny specks of light. They’re not just stars, they’re like little moments of hope, flickering against the unknown. Maybe Makowski was thinking about Van Gogh here, those swirling skies, but with something more grounded, more connected to the earth. Ultimately, this painting is about seeing the magic in the everyday. It’s an invitation to slow down, to look closer, and to find the beauty in the unexpected.