Artwork
La culesul viei
La culesul viei is a print by Samuel Mützner. It dates from 1932 and is held in the collection of the Colecție particulară - Elveția.
About this work
Overview
Samuel Mützner’s 1932 work titled “La culesul viei” is part of the collection at the Museum of Ethnography. Executed as a print, the image presents a garden scene populated by four women, rendered in a palette of bright yet slightly muted reds, blues and greens. The composition balances figures and foliage, creating a lively yet somewhat unfinished visual impression.
Subject & Meaning
The central focus is a group of women engaged in garden activity. One figure in a red skirt holds a parasol, while another kneels in a white dress, reaching toward a shrub. The surrounding greenery and softened floral background suggest a leisurely, perhaps communal, outdoor setting, reflecting early‑twentieth‑century notions of femininity and domestic leisure.
Technique & Style
Mützner employs a loose, sketch‑like brushstroke that gives the print an energetic, almost provisional quality. The handling of color is bright but slightly faded, allowing reds and blues to stand out against the dominant greens. Though described as a print, the surface bears textural qualities reminiscent of impasto, hinting at a tactile approach to paint application.
History & Provenance
Created in 1932, “La culesul viei” entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display. The work reflects Mützner’s activity during the interwar period, a time when European artists often explored genre scenes and everyday life through printmaking and painting.
Artist & collection
