Glória Do Artista 1933

Alberto da Veiga Guignard made 'Glória Do Artista' with paint and I’m immediately drawn to the otherworldly palette he uses. The muted greens and oranges create a dreamlike atmosphere, a hazy space where figures seem to emerge from the canvas itself. Look closely, and you'll notice how Guignard builds up these forms with layers of thin, washy paint. It's almost as if he's conjuring these ethereal beings into existence. Notice the face in profile, the softness of the cheekbone created with subtle gradations of color. Then, see how the wings of the figure in the center have these fiery orange edges, that contrast so strikingly with the muted tones that dominate elsewhere. There's a playful ambiguity here too. Guignard reminds me a bit of Odilon Redon, they both use an intuitive approach to colour, with personal symbolism, and a sensitivity to the painting process. Ultimately, art is like an ongoing conversation and it’s up to us to listen and respond in our own way.