Marusia in the park 1940

"Marusia in the park"– here's a painting that probably came into being alla prima, wet on wet, with loaded brushes, by David Burliuk. The dominant marks are short jabs and strokes in a high-key palette of blues, greens, and yellows. I imagine Burliuk outside, maybe in a hurry, trying to capture the feel of the place. I sympathize with the artist, because there are so many decisions to be made in a short amount of time: where to put the strokes? How to mix the colors just right? The paint is thick, built up in layers, giving it a tangible presence that pulls you into the scene. I love the little dabs of color that suggest flowers, and how the vertical strokes build up the mass of the trees. They're like bursts of energy! You can see how this piece relates to the work of the Impressionists, but with a more Expressionist edge. Ultimately, artists are always looking at each other's work, riffing off ideas across time. Painting is an ongoing conversation, embracing ambiguity and offering multiple interpretations. What do you think?