Artwork
Peisaj la Veneția
Peisaj la Veneția is a print by Corneliu Baba. It dates from 1969 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Art of Romania.
About this work
Overview
Corneliu Baba’s 1969 canvas entitled *Peisaj la Veneția* presents a compact urban scene composed of four vertical structures aligned in a row. The central pair are rendered in a saturated red hue, while the flanking buildings adopt a muted yellow‑brown tone. A sparse arrangement of leafless trees borders the right edge, and the sky above is depicted in a pale, washed‑out shade.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a stylized view of a Venetian streetscape, emphasizing the solidity and mass of its architecture rather than precise topographical detail. By isolating the buildings against a minimal background, Baba draws attention to the interplay of color and form, suggesting a contemplation of urban permanence amid a muted atmospheric setting.
Technique & Style
Baba employs a pronounced impasto technique, applying thick layers of paint that stand out from the canvas surface. The brushstrokes are vigorous and uneven, giving the façades a tactile, almost sculptural quality. This heavy application creates a textured relief, especially evident in the red and yellow‑brown planes, and contributes to a sense of physical presence.
History & Provenance
Created in 1969, the painting belongs to the later period of Baba’s career, a time when he increasingly explored expressive surface treatment. Details of its exhibition history or ownership are not widely documented, but the work remains a representative example of his mid‑century explorations of urban motifs and materiality.
Artist & collection
Artist
Corneliu Baba was a Romanian painter, primarily a portraitist, but also known as a genre painter and an illustrator of books.
