European School (1930s) - Omen

- Oil on canvas. - This magnificent painting, dated 1936 and encoded in deep impressionistic brushstrokes, depicts two brown calves observing a distant storm, and does so with a sensitivity that transcends mere visual representation, inviting the viewer to reflect on a deep and primordial connection between animals and nature. The loose and effusive brushstrokes characterize the impressionist style, where light and colors are the protagonists, without a desire for academic precision, but with the intention of transmitting the very atmosphere of the moment. The calves, in the foreground, look towards the horizon, where dark clouds gather in an approaching storm. Despite his youth, his gaze reflects a deep awareness of what is coming, a sensitivity to nature that seems to go beyond mere intuition. The calm on their faces contrasts with the dynamic and agitated sky that unfolds above them, emphasizing the paradox of their calm in the midst of the impending storm. The softness of their brown fur blends with the greens and yellows of the surrounding countryside, and their bodies, modeled with rapid brushstrokes, seem in perfect harmony with the landscape. The storm in the distance is captured in a succession of dark and vibrant colors, with the sky tinged with grays and purples that seem to come to life, anticipating the roar and fury to come. However, the essence of the work is not so much the drama of the storm, but rather the almost spiritual relationship between the calves and the natural phenomenon. The sense that animals have a unique perception of the storm, one that we humans often ignore in our vanity, is what gives the painting a symbolic and reflexive charge. In painting, man, in his desire to dominate the world around him, often loses the connection with nature and the elements. This scene of calves watching the storm, oblivious to the human urgency and fully attentive to the signs of the natural world, suggests a form of consciousness that we have forgotten. While humans have become estranged from nature through reason and progress, animals remain deeply attuned to its cycles and signals. This unusual sensitivity of the calves, captured so subtly in the painting, highlights the idea that non-human beings are, in some way, more in tune with the rhythms of the earth than humans themselves, too busy with their vanity and ambition, can perceive. Thus, this painting is not only a depiction of a natural scene, but also a meditation on intuition and the primordial connection between animals and the world they inhabit. The fact that the calves observe the storm, while humanity remains ignorant of the subtle signs of the environment, suggests a profound reflection on the lost relationship with nature that defines our modern existence. - Unframed image dimensions: 31 x 38 cm / 41 x 48 cm with beautiful gilded frame. - It comes from a private collection of paintings in Lille.