Black hat and red ribbon – Gazmend Freitag

Gazmend Freitag, Linz, 2019. Photo: Johann Traunwieser. In a private collection!

What inspires an artist? A photograph by an Italian photographer found in a collection of old books. A woman that entices the mind and the heart. A black hat with a red ribbon.

Together they add up to a lovely painting that exudes an aura of youth, playfulness and romanticism.

The Albanian born painter Gazmend Freitag, who lives and works in Linz, Austria, is known for his colorful erotic paintings and his lovely portraits in pencil and pastels. Here he uses strong brushstrokes, complementary colors and a wonderful play of light to define the rather ethereal appearance of a young woman, who seems to try on the black hat as a source of strength and confidence. The casually held towel mirrors the red of the ribbon and serves as a counterweight.