11/12/2014

The Intriguing Paintings Of Peter Panov

By Christa Jarvis


An era that still has great fascination for many people today is that of the 1920s. The artist, Peter Panov, is one of these people and he has chosen to capture scenes from this time in his works. This was a time when artists met in cafes to talk and change was in the air. His work reflects this time in history and yet it also has a modern, contemporary feel to it.

He creates memorable characters in his paintings although they also give one the feeling of being familiar. His scenes come from all the ordinary events of daily life and are made special. Men read newspapers, women sit in cafes and drink wine or walk in the street. Jazz musicians, stars of the silver screen and city scenes are all subjects he enjoys painting.

The artist typically works in acrylic, with some mixed-media pieces. Cubism features in his work and this is perhaps what gives it its contemporary edge. His paintings almost have the look of collages, particularly with the way in which he uses newsprint. His flat forms and blocks of color are also typical of cubism. They are extremely flat and yet still seem to have depth.

His canvas is filled with intricate details and he juxtaposes elements in unexpected ways. Large figures of musicians are seated in the sky playing their instruments with the city below them. Others stand alongside buildings and almost seem part of them. This makes one wonder about whether the inhabitants are molded by the city or whether they create its image around them.

The textures are created with the use of palette knife and brush and colors are combined in a sophisticated manner. He takes the routine of city life and manages to capture moments in time to tell a story. Someone moves behind the curtains, a woman battles against the wind in the street with her umbrella, two lovers embrace in a telephone booth and a woman sits at a cafe applying her lipstick with a small mirror.

Josephine Baker, an icon of the 1920s appears in some of his paintings. She was an actress, dancer and singer who became famous for her daring outfits and dance routines. Mary Pickford, probably the most famous movie star of the time, is another subject he chose to portray.

It is his crowd scenes that are particularly compelling. In a number of paintings he portrays men in their hats and suits, with their backs towards the viewer. There is a sameness about these men and yet the impression is anything but boring. Closer examination shows the intricacy in the details, the clever use of color and the differences between the men become apparent.

The works of this artist are available for purchase from online galleries. His fans eagerly await his latest paintings. They love them for their intricacy and narrative detail. These works go far beyond the mere creation of images on canvas, having a depth and a timeless quality to them.




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