View of Fahr Monastery through Trees 1945

Max Gubler made this painting of Fahr Monastery through Trees, at an unknown date, with visible brushstrokes and a muted palette, inviting us into his process of seeing. Up close, you can almost feel the physicality of the paint; thick in some spots, thin in others. The way Gubler applies the paint, you can tell he was really present in the moment, responding to the subject with each dab and stroke. Look at the way he’s rendered the foliage in the midground; it’s gestural, almost abstract, but somehow still evokes the feeling of a landscape. Then there are those bold, dark brown tree branches, reaching out like skeletal arms. They’re so direct and confident, providing a striking contrast to the softer, more atmospheric elements. This piece reminds me a little of Milton Avery, with its simplified forms and emphasis on color relationships. Like Avery, Gubler seems to prioritize feeling and mood over strict representation, creating a work that is both grounded in observation and deeply personal.