Påfåglar 1918

Nils Dardel made Påfåglar, or peacocks, in 1918, and the scene is a light wash of watercolour wonder. It's a great example of how art making is a kind of invitation, asking you to step into a different way of seeing and feeling. Look at how Dardel handles the paint, it's thin and almost transparent, like a memory fading in and out. The colours are muted, like they've been sitting in the sun, and the brushstrokes are loose and playful. It's not about showing off skills, it's about capturing a mood, a feeling, a certain kind of vibe. It’s a little like a Wes Anderson movie, slightly detached. Take the figure on the right, for example, the one with the moustache gesturing with his hands: his skin is almost the same colour as his jacket! It’s a light touch, that brings to mind similar scenes in the work of Eric Ravilious. I love the way the whole piece embraces ambiguity. What’s happening here? Why are these people together? It’s like a riddle, with no right answer.