Winnea Martel 1981

Włodzimierz Zakrzewski made this painting, Winnea Martel, using oil on canvas. The colours are really interesting here, a complex harmony of muted greys and greens, punctuated by flashes of white and pink blossom, it’s all very process-oriented. Up close, you can see how Zakrzewski has built up the surface with thick, expressive strokes. The paint is laid on with such physicality, you can almost feel the weight of the brush in his hand. Look at how the light catches the impasto in the foreground, it’s as if the landscape itself is emerging from the canvas. I love the way that the artist uses paint to evoke the textures of nature. It reminds me a bit of the landscapes of Chaïm Soutine, especially in its visceral handling of paint, yet there is also a lyrical quality that is uniquely Zakrzewski’s own. It’s a piece that invites us to slow down and appreciate the beauty of ambiguity.