Autumn 1949

Ivan Generalic made "Autumn" with oil on glass, and I can only imagine the process of layering color upon color, building up this scene almost in reverse, from foreground to background. It must've been such a precise and considered act. I can't help but think about the flat planes of color, how they create a kind of dreamy, fairytale landscape. The palette is earthy, yet there's a luminosity that makes the whole scene glow. Look at how the bare trees reach up into the sky, their branches like delicate white lace against the deep blue. I see echoes of Henri Rousseau in Generalic's naive style and meticulous detail. There's a sense of wonder and a love for the natural world that permeates the painting. Each artist borrows and builds upon what has come before, engaging in a visual conversation across time. They leave us with new ways of seeing and experiencing the world.