Painter and palette

The OK initials and the style of the portrayed character probably indicate that this work is the result of the genius of Oskar Kokoschka, one of the founders of Middle-European expressionism, who spanned the twentieth century with unrestrained virtuosity, thanks to his immense talent. Starting from the works of the first period, distinguished by a harsh style and by a desire to represent the world in an immediate and grotesque way, he later arrived at a more mature, meditated approach, which makes color and vibrant brushstroke the strengths of a sincere and powerful art. In the painting we admire here, we discover an elegant man with similar features to those of the artist. He shows his palette while behind him is a painting or a poster that reveals a jockey and a horse, under the inscription "Hippodrome". Notice especially the beautiful hand, which caresses the brush, which in turn touches the palette. One of Kokoschka's fundamental qualities is indeed his ability to render the subjects three-dimensional, giving to bodies and things the physicality and weight they need to be credible and realistic.