Bandbox c. 1940

Lazar Rubinstein made Bandbox, likely with paint on paper, and it’s giving me all sorts of good vibes. Look at the way he fearlessly applies the colours. It's not about perfection; it's about feeling, about finding the image through the act of painting. I love how Rubinstein handles his materials here. The paint isn’t trying to hide its own nature. You can see the strokes, the way the brush moved. Take a look at the rooster's tail. Each stroke is visible and together they make up a beautiful layered, almost floral shape. This isn’t just about depicting a rooster; it’s about exploring what paint can do. It’s about embracing the physicality of the medium. Rubinstein’s work reminds me a bit of Henri Rousseau, in the sense that both artists create worlds that are both familiar and utterly strange, filled with their own logic and poetry. This piece is an invitation to embrace art’s capacity for ambiguity and multiple readings.