“The Thinker of Hamangia and his lady.”
The Hamangia culture is a Late Neolithic archaeological culture of Dobruja (Romanian: Dobrogea), between lower Danube river and the Black Sea. It is named after the site Baia – Hamangia, discovered in 1952 along Galovita lake. It begun around 5200 BC and lasted until around 4500 BC. Numerous pottery objects were found. Most typical were painted vessels with complex geometrical shapes based on spiral motifs. Pottery figurines are extremely stylized, many depicting standing faceless women with emphasized breasts and buttocks.
Two figurines known as “The Thinker of Hamangia” and “The Sitting woman” are considered to be masterpieces of the Neolithic.
During my recent holiday in Romania we found some pottery by a Romanian artist, Petru Maxim from Dorohoi (http://www.maximart.ro). Amongst other pieces, mostly inspired by Cucuteni culture we found this little pottery figures depicting the famous “Thinker” and “Sitting woman” of Hamangia. We bought them straight away. Immediately I thought of painting them, but it took me nearly two months for the first attempt. I painted alla prima, in one day, using a very reduced palette and no medium, just turps.
On this occasion I played more with the lights and the newly acquired dimmer.
So, here it is:
“The Thinker of Hamangia and his lady.”
Oil on linen.
24 X 30cm (10” X 12”)
