Icelandic Farm 1978

Louisa Matthiasdottir made this painting of an Icelandic Farm, using juicy strokes of oil paint to create a vibrant, almost cartoonish landscape. It’s a celebration of how paint can build a world. I love the way Matthiasdottir handles paint; it’s so physical. The strokes are confident, thick, and loaded with color. Look at the mountain looming over the farm, how the brushstrokes build up the form, creating a tangible sense of weight and texture. Then there's the sky, a flat expanse of blue, laid on with broad strokes. It’s a simple gesture but it really anchors the whole composition. The individual marks don’t blend; they sit side by side, creating a mosaic-like effect. This way of working reminds me a little of Fairfield Porter, another artist who found beauty in the everyday. Matthiasdottir shows us that a painting doesn't need to be super detailed to capture the essence of a place. It’s all about the feeling, the light, and the joy of putting paint on canvas.