A bookstore 

David Burliuk painted “A Bookstore” using oil on canvas; a conventional method, yet the painting depicts an unconventional subject for fine art. The rough texture of the painting gives it an earthy feel; you can almost smell the old paper and ink. The thick brushstrokes add to the sense of place, as though we're right there on Fourth Avenue, amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. Consider how Burliuk elevates an everyday scene into something worthy of artistic attention. The books, the readers, the shopkeeper, all rendered with the same care and attention as a historical painting. Burliuk turns his attention to the working class. Fourth Avenue was the famous Book Row in New York, so it is very plausible that Burliuk painted this scene en plein air. Burliuk invites us to look closely at the world around us and find beauty and meaning in the ordinary. In this way, he blurs the lines between high art and everyday life, inviting us to see value in the overlooked corners of our society.