Talaychev bridge 1931

Ivan Generalic made this painting, Talaychev Bridge, on glass, using, I would guess, the thinnest, tiniest brushes. The effect is almost like looking at an embroidery, a series of tiny marks slowly building up an image. The texture of the paint on the glass is something you can’t see in the photograph, but it gives the image a certain depth and luminosity. Look at the way the colours are layered, and how the artist has used a limited palette to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The lines are so fine, and so controlled, that they almost disappear into the image. I’m drawn to the trees, some yellow, some brown, and how they seem to float in the sky. It reminds me of the work of Henri Rousseau, another artist who was able to create a sense of wonder and magic in his paintings. Ultimately, art isn’t about perfection. It’s about the journey, the process, and the exchange of ideas across time. This painting is a perfect example of that.