Concert 1928

Louis Marcoussis made this painting, Concert, with oils, but we don't know exactly when. Look at the way Marcoussis breaks down the face into planes, almost like a puzzle. It's not about a perfect likeness, but more about capturing the essence of a person, maybe even the feeling of music itself. The colors are muted, mostly greens, browns, and blacks, which adds to the serious, almost somber mood. But there's also a playfulness in the way he uses line, like that single, unbroken line that traces the profile. The paint is applied in thin layers, allowing the texture of the canvas to show through, which gives it a kind of rawness. You can almost see the artist thinking, adjusting, and experimenting as he goes. And that little squiggle at the bottom, could that be a signature, or maybe a musical flourish? This feels like a cousin to Picasso's cubist portraits, but with a quieter, more introspective feel. It's like Marcoussis is inviting us to listen closely, to look beyond the surface, and to find our own rhythm in the composition.