With Mum 1925

Editor: So, this is Samuel Mutzner's "With Mum," painted in 1925, using oil paints, seemingly with quite thick strokes, actually. It’s a fascinating portrait. I’m immediately struck by the expressiveness of their faces, though also with some sadness. What draws your eye when you look at this piece? Curator: That's a keen observation. For me, the vibrant colours contrasting with those melancholic expressions ignite my imagination. I wonder about the story, the personal connection captured with these thick impasto strokes – each one is like a whispered secret. Don't you think the naivete almost amplifies the feeling of raw emotional honesty? Editor: Definitely, it’s like the artist isn't trying to hide anything. But is the seeming lack of conventional technique on purpose, or is this what we might consider an untrained vision? Curator: Ah, there’s the rub, isn’t it? It straddles the line, beautifully. The artist probably uses fauvist colour boldness along with the expressionistic style to heighten those emotional resonances... It's an exciting balancing act: conscious artistic choice intertwined with, as you say, perhaps a "naive" lens. It makes you feel something, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. I love that contrast – trained or not, the rawness gets right under your skin. I didn’t expect it to speak to me like that. Curator: It’s wonderful, isn’t it, when a piece challenges our assumptions. "With Mum" – Mutzner gives us a vibrant story where technicalities fade and a heartfelt connection is crystal clear. An art encounter for the soul.