145. On the Waterfront [cca. 1927]

In his work, the characters sometimes appear as decorative poses, while other times they are captured in labor – at hay or corn – thus any trace of the frozen atmosphere of the pose vanishes. The preference for rural-themed subject matter can be particularly identified beginning in 1923, with the frequent stopovers of the famous couple of artists in the villages of Oltenia. The picturesque motif will now be interpreted in an idyllic manner, from placing the muse within the intimate frame of the interiors, to the style permutation that occurs with the illustration of the model in the outdoor space. The chromatic richness starting from the depiction of the protagonist's clothing slips gently toward the background rich in shades and details. We notice the white headscarves and large sheepskins, but also the long skirts and white blouses. The same character appears in another traditional style work, dated 1923, in which the female character is illustrated wearing the same garments and is also depicted in a corner of nature. The leaves of the trees indicate a temporal positioning at the beginning of autumn, when the leaves begin to yellow and slowly detach from the tree branches. Mützner's protagonist is represented this time on the riverbank, with blushing cheeks and a red coat, with the left hand leaning on the bank and a clearly thoughtful grimace. The color palette chosen by the artist still betrays his concern for impressionism and plein-air, for late pointillism and blending of emotions depicted on the canvas.

Dimensions

width 70.5 cm, height 58 cm

Description

oil on cardboard, signed bottom left, in black, "S. MUTZNER"

Dating

cca. 1927

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