First Bucolic: Virgil Expelled from the Earth by a Centurion 1955

Jacques Villon made 'First Bucolic: Virgil Expelled from the Earth by a Centurion' with angular lines and a muted palette that suggests a dreamlike state. The process feels exposed, like we're seeing the bones of the composition. The materiality is fascinating; the colors are thin washes, almost transparent, laid down within a network of firm, dark lines. Look at how the trees in the background are rendered with dense, scribbled marks – it’s as if Villon is mapping out not just their form, but also their energy. That scribbled texture contrasts with the flat, geometric shapes that make up the figures, creating a dynamic tension. Villon's work reminds me a bit of some of the early Cubist experiments, but with a softer edge. It’s about seeing the world fractured, but still finding beauty in the pieces. It's a reminder that art isn't about fixed meanings, but about opening up spaces for multiple interpretations.