Sower and Devil 1923

'Sower and Devil' is a square oil painting by Albin Egger-Lienz. Look at how Egger-Lienz applies paint, it’s very much about the physical act, the gesture of placing pigment onto the canvas. The colours are earthy and muted, yet the composition feels dynamic. The devil is a mass of dark energy, while the sower is lighter, though no less powerful. They’re caught in the act of moving forward, their shapes simplified to their basic forms, muscle and cloth reduced to bold shapes. Notice how the brushstrokes follow the form of their bodies, giving a real sense of weight and volume. The background, that muted yellow-brown, could be a field or simply the ground they walk upon. I love how the sower's blue pants pop against the yellow, creating a visual tension. It reminds me a little of Paula Modersohn-Becker, that same focus on simplified forms and raw, honest depictions of everyday life. Art is always talking to art across time, isn't it? And sometimes those conversations are devilishly good.