Composure 2020

Martine Johanna made this painting called Composure sometime in the last century, and she did it with paint, of course. The color palette is a wash of muted tones with sharp accents of blue and pink, a testament to how color can set a mood and direct your eye. I’m really drawn to the way she handles the fabric of the skirt, those dark blue pleats cascade down like a waterfall, and the way it meets the rug it creates an electric jolt of contrast. Now, look closer at the rug itself, you’ll notice she’s not just painting a rug but building a pattern with layers of color, almost like she’s weaving the paint itself. You can see similar methods in the work of someone like Christina Ramberg, with an emphasis on patterns and how that can evoke a feeling. Paintings like this show how art isn’t about capturing a thing perfectly, but about building an experience and a mood.