Venice 1916

Konstantin Gorbatov captured this view of Venice with oils in a mosaic of small brushstrokes. It's a textural wonderland, right? Up close, the surface is alive with these tiny dabs and dashes of paint, creating a shimmering effect. It's like Gorbatov is building the scene, brick by brick, with color. Look at the way he renders the light on the buildings – that's the money shot right there! The paint is thick, almost sculptural, giving the architecture a palpable weight and presence. I love how he’s not afraid to let the brushstrokes show, each one a testament to the act of painting itself. There's something about this that reminds me of the pointillist landscapes of Camille Pissarro, that same concern with surface and the breakup of light. It’s a great reminder that art is just a conversation, this ongoing exchange of ideas and approaches.