Annunciation 1931

Oleksa Novakivskyi made this painting of the Annunciation, it’s hard to say when exactly, but it’s all about the process, right? The way the colours melt and blend, it's like he's figuring it out as he goes, and in a way, isn't that what the Annunciation is about? The paint is laid on pretty thick, you can almost feel the texture, the way the light catches on those strokes of red in Mary’s robe, against the darker edges. And look at those flowers the angel is offering – quick daubs of blue, so casual, like a little joke amid all the seriousness. It’s like he's saying, "Hey, even miracles have a messy side." Reminds me a bit of Emil Nolde, the way he uses colour to build emotion, but Novakivskyi has his own rough, folk-art kind of energy. For me, art isn't about answers, it's about the questions, the trying, the never quite getting there.