Blue Waterfall - Romul Nutiu

An expressive abstract work by Romanian artist Romul Nutiu, featuring vertical layers of blue and white paint that evoke the movement of water.

Romul Nutiu, a significant figure in Romanian post-war art, developed a distinct approach to abstraction that prioritised the physical application of paint. In Blue Waterfall, the artist employs a heavy impasto technique, where layers of pigment are built up to create a sense of vertical movement. The composition is dominated by vertical striations of blue, white, and touches of green, which mimic the cascading motion of water while remaining firmly rooted in non-representational form.

Nutiu often worked with a palette that balanced cool tones against darker, grounding shadows. Here, the deep blacks and dark blues provide a contrast to the lighter, more fluid applications of white paint. This creates a sense of depth within the surface of the canvas. The brushwork is deliberate and energetic, reflecting the artist's interest in the raw materiality of oil paint. By avoiding precise detail, Nutiu allows the viewer to interpret the movement and rhythm of the work through the interaction of colour and texture alone.

This piece demonstrates the artist's focus on the expressive potential of the medium. Rather than attempting to depict a specific natural scene, Nutiu uses the title as a suggestion of the energy and flow present in the work. The result is a study in verticality and light, where the paint itself becomes the subject. His work is often associated with the broader European movements of the mid-twentieth century that sought to move away from figurative constraints, instead favouring a direct, visceral engagement with the canvas. This print captures the texture and depth of the original oil application, maintaining the integrity of Nutiu's original mark-making process.