21. Irises (Window to Balchik) [1937]

Following his study trip to Paris, Samuel Mützner would renounce the somber tones of his Munich period and adopt the sunny palette typical of the Impressionist painters at Giverny. His apprenticeship in Claude Monet's studio would be decisive in the Romanian painter's artistic journey, introducing a new perspective on light and color. Starting in 1908, Mützner would adopt a chromatic palette rich in light colors, which embodied the fullness of light, thus adopting the characteristics of Impressionism. He would excel in rendering light and shadow, and successfully transition from one shade to another. The '20s would bring more still lifes into his work, so we can admire, from this moment, floral elegies dedicated to anemones, peonies, tulips, or bunches of lisianthus. The great journeys made between 1912-1919 would deeply mark his entire oeuvre and appear sporadically under different influences in his later creations. America, Japan, and also Europe - especially Spain, France or Balchik will reappear in his creations through specific touches or color accents. Samuel Mützner adapts his color palette according to the evolution of nature and exploits the force of light with unwavering passion. He transcribes light sublimely or with explosive highlights, according to the state he wants to depict. He maintains the short, juxtaposed strokes, and tones of blue or green with accents of pink, violet or yellow even in the works following the Giverny moment. The bouquet of flowers becomes a remarkable exponent for the chromatic strength acquired by the artist over a few decades of continual work. The purple flowers, with their frivolous stems, which serpentine and easily detach towards the windowsill, reveal an entire universe in the background. The window overlooking the sea indicates in an original way the Balchik, beloved by the artist. We can admire the sea and the mountains, but also the small town with white houses and brick roofs. Thus, we observe the way the artist, passionate about Seneca, Epictetus, or Marcus Aurelius, interprets everyday life and familiar elements.

References

ANDREESCU, Viorica, "Samuel Mützner", Meridiane Publishing House, Bucharest, 1974. MARIAN, Rodica, "Samuel Mützner", Antet Publishing House, Bucharest, 2005.

Dimensions

width 65 cm, height 80 cm

Description

oil on canvas glued on cardboard, signed and dated bottom right, in black, "S. Mutzner, 1937"

Dating

1937

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