Girls from Lankaran 1961

Vajiha Samadova made this painting, *Girls from Lankaran*, with oil on canvas at an unknown date. The way Samadova builds the scene is so interesting, she’s not afraid to let the brushstrokes be visible, almost like she’s inviting us into her process. Looking at the painting, you can really feel the texture of the paint, especially in the background where the greens and browns are layered thickly. It’s like she’s sculpting with color. Notice how the strokes of color create movement, pulling your eye across the canvas. Take a look at the figure in the peach skirt. See how the brushstrokes define the folds and how the light hits the fabric? It’s these details that bring the whole piece to life. Samadova reminds me of Alice Neel, another painter who wasn’t afraid to show the raw, human side of her subjects, and who uses colour and bold brushwork to describe the world she sees. Art’s just one big conversation, isn’t it?