Narcissus and Lilies 1920

Theodor Pallady painted "Narcissus and Lilies" with oil on cardboard, and it’s really something. The paint application feels intuitive, like a dance. Looking closely, you can see how Pallady builds up the image with layers of thin, washy paint. The textures aren’t about replicating reality, but rather about creating a feeling of depth and light. The tablecloth is a prime example, with its playful patches of pink and green, all rough edges and visible brushstrokes. See how the stems of the flowers fade into the background, how the background and the flower petals melt into one another? That is what I love. Pallady has a way of making you feel like you’re seeing something familiar in a completely new light. Like with Vuillard or Bonnard, it is as if the act of painting is a way of thinking through the world. It’s not about answers, but about ongoing inquiry.