Landscape in Felsobanya 1924

Vilmos Aba-Novak gave us this painting of a landscape, probably made with oils on a canvas panel. Look at the way he’s dabbed and dragged the paint; it’s all about the feel of the place, right? The colors are mostly greens and browns, nature’s palette, but they’re layered on top of each other, creating a sense of depth and mystery. Up close, you can see each stroke, each decision, like little puzzles fitting together. Then, when you pull back, it all comes together as one complete vision. I keep coming back to that path snaking through the hills; it almost vanishes into the green. It invites you to take a walk. Like in a Bonnard painting, there's a real sense of light and air, but also a kind of melancholy, a feeling that things are always changing. What a gift.