Joining Kazan to Russia. Allegory 1913

Boris Kustodiev made this painting called Joining Kazan to Russia, it’s an allegory, but we don’t know exactly when or with what materials. It’s like a big, messy swirl of dark reds and browns, really juicy, reminding me of some old history painting, but with a folksy twist. The paint is thick, you can almost feel the brushstrokes. I get the sense Kustodiev didn't fuss too much, he just went for it. Look at the way he painted those figures at the bottom - it’s like they're melting into each other. This feels like a wild dream about the past. It reminds me a bit of Ensor, how he crammed so much into one space. But Kustodiev's got this Russian sensibility, this warmth, even in the chaos. For me, art's about mixing it up, letting things be messy and unresolved. It's like life.