Woman with red cow 

David Burliuk, a key figure in the Russian avant-garde, painted 'Woman with Red Cow' using oil on canvas. The thick, almost sculptural application of paint is immediately apparent, creating a textured surface that animates the entire composition. Burliuk's impasto technique isn't just about capturing light; it's integral to the work's social meaning. Look closely at the way he builds up the paint, especially in the cow's musculature and the woman's dress. This tactile quality emphasizes the labor involved, reminding us of the physical world and the work of those who inhabit it. The choice of subject matter – a peasant woman and her cow – further roots the painting in the realities of rural life, a theme that resonated with many early 20th-century artists interested in elevating the everyday. By drawing attention to both the materiality of paint and the lives of ordinary people, Burliuk blurs the lines between high art and the aesthetics of the working class, challenging traditional artistic hierarchies.