Twighlight in Riga 

Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky's 'Twilight in Riga' is an oil painting, a medium that mixes ground pigments with drying oil as a binder. This technique, which dates back to the Middle Ages, allows for rich colors and subtle gradations, as you can see in the reflections on the water’s surface. Bogdanov-Belsky’s skilled application of oil paint in this landscape imitates the atmospheric effects of twilight, capturing the mood of the scene. Beyond the visual aspect, the materiality of oil paint carries a social context. Its production involves complex labor, from extracting raw materials to processing pigments and oils. The accessibility of oil paint to artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries reflects the growing industrialization and commercialization of art materials, making art creation more accessible, but also entwined with capitalist modes of production and consumption. Considering these aspects of material and process allows us to appreciate the painting not only for its aesthetic qualities but also for its connection to broader social and economic forces.