38. In Full Sunlight [1927]

Rudolf Schweitzer-Cumpăna distinguished himself through a rich artistic and exhibition activity, being a painter with a strong and well-defined artistic personality. Although he was formed in the German academic environment, graduating from the Royal Academy in Berlin, his sensitivity was shaped by the specificities of traditional Romanian culture. His work reveals an acute sense of observation and a deep empathy for the rural world and the figure of the peasant. Cumpăna develops an artistic sense of the concrete, avoiding visual artifices and preferring a sincere, direct expression. The present work belongs to the first period of creation, when, until 1927, the artist had already exhibited in prestigious spaces such as the Romanian Athenaeum, the Dalles Hall or, internationally, in Paris. Although based in Bucharest, Cumpăna often found inspiration in the landscapes and characters of Dobrogea, an area that frequently recurs in his work. In a warm atmosphere, with strokes, specific to his style, through the chromatics used it brings a note of balance. The bright colors evoke the strong midday light, but are sometimes tempered compared to other works, such as "Peasant Household" (Cotroceni National Museum). In both cases, the cardboard provides a warm background, but here, the ochre of the earth is softened by the mix with white, which generates a gentler and more serene effect. The artist used to tell his students: "In art, so much effort must be put in to eliminate any trace of effort," and this work fully reflects this concept: the image is clear, expressive, and recognizable, with each stroke placed naturally, fluidly.

References

APOSTOLACHE-STOICESCU, Zoe, ZIELINSCKI, Maximilian, ”Painter Schweitzer-Cumpăna, Fragments of Life”, Ed. Foundation Cumpăna, Bucharest, 2014.

Dimensions

width 71 cm, height 48 cm

Description

oil on cardboard, signed and dated bottom left, in red, "Schweitzer-Cumpăna, 1927"

Dating

1927

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