Transformation 1947

Leo Leuppi made this painting with oil paint and an eye for geometry. The light blues are cool and calm like a sky on a crisp winter day. I wonder if Leuppi mixed the colors himself. Can you imagine what it would be like to slowly mix the white and blue together on a palette? There is a beautiful symmetry, a satisfying balance of shapes. I see the artist placing these shapes, moving them around until they felt just right. Did he labor over the details, or did it all come together in a flash of inspiration? Did he maybe build up layers of shapes, painting over until the composition sang? That central white shape, like three almonds stacked together – it kind of reminds me of Joan Miro's constellation paintings. There's a kinship there, don't you think? It just goes to show you that artists are always talking to each other, riffing on each other's ideas, keeping the conversation going across time.