Black hat and red ribbon 2012

Gazmend Freitag made this painting, Black Hat and Red Ribbon, in 2012, using oil on canvas. The way he's dabbed and swirled the paint makes me think about artmaking as a conversation, a back-and-forth between intention and accident. Look at the impasto, that thick, textured surface. You can almost feel the energy of the brushstrokes, especially in the lush greens of the background. It's not about hiding the process, it's about celebrating the physicality of the paint, and I just love that. Notice how the bold strokes around the figure contrast with the softer, more blended areas, creating this sense of depth and movement. It reminds me a little of Van Gogh's expressive brushwork, that same willingness to let the paint speak for itself. But Freitag brings his own voice, his own unique perspective to the conversation. It's a reminder that art is always evolving, always building on what came before, and always open to new interpretations.