Untitled (Heralds) 1938

Emiliano Di Cavalcanti made this painting of heralds on horseback sometime around 1938. The colours are so earthy and vibrant; yellow, brown, red, and black. It’s as if the paint was laid down one block at a time, in flat geometric shapes. The artist really understood the feeling of the forms. The paint application feels quite deliberate, each stroke adding to the overall composition. I can imagine Di Cavalcanti really thinking through each decision, considering how each color and shape would interact with the others. I can picture him stepping back from the canvas, squinting, and then adding another decisive mark. The trumpet is just so odd, like a toy! It’s so strange how this detail really encapsulates the overall spirit of the piece. I can see echoes of Léger and Picasso in his work; these guys are always in conversation, even across time. For Di Cavalcanti, like so many artists, the act of painting becomes a form of knowledge, a way of feeling, and ultimately a way of sharing.