The Good Samaritan 1940

Cyprián Majerník made this painting of the Good Samaritan with what looks like pretty loose brushwork and a palette of earthy browns and greens, that really emphasizes the making. Up close, you can almost feel the dirt and grit under your fingernails. The paint is applied in these visible strokes, not trying to hide anything, like each touch is a decision, an action. Look at the way the light hits the body of the injured man – those almost skeletal limbs. It's raw and immediate, not refined but full of feeling, and kind of courageous. It reminds me a little of Rouault, maybe, that same willingness to embrace the rough edges of painting, to let the materials speak their own language. Ultimately, it's a really moving painting.