Relache 1943

Toyen made this painting, Relache, with oil paint, and what strikes me is how the textures combine to create such a strange reality. The walls look like they're melting, with the paint applied in these vertical drips that give the whole scene an unsettling vibe. Look at how the figure is rendered - hanging upside down, clinging to a bar, and the dress, painted with such care and detail, juxtaposes with the more gestural background. It is opaque, with thick brushstrokes that give it a sculptural quality. The stark lighting emphasizes the folds and shadows, creating a sense of depth and volume, and the careful modeling of the figure contrasts with the looser, more expressive handling of the walls. It’s as if Toyen is inviting us to consider the fluidity of identity and the instability of the world around us, echoing the dreamscapes of someone like Leonora Carrington but with a uniquely unsettling atmosphere.