Kyiv in winter (triptych, left part: Borychiv Tik) 1985

Yuriy Khymych made this watercolor of Kyiv in winter to form the left part of a triptych. I love the way he's letting the white of the paper do some of the work, especially for that ghostly cathedral in the distance. The palette is so restrained, almost monochrome, but then you notice these pops of rusty red and ochre in the buildings. There’s something so immediate about watercolor, you know? You can see the hand of the artist so clearly, these loose washes and quick strokes that capture the feeling of a cold, quiet day. Look at the snow, how it's not just white but a whole range of blues and grays. The thin, almost translucent washes create a sense of depth. Those little figures pulling a sled—they’re like a tiny spark of life in this frozen landscape. It's like a memory, fleeting and beautiful. This piece reminds me a little of some of the early 20th century European painters. But Khymych has his own thing going on here. It’s a beautiful example of how art can speak across time and place, while still being rooted in a specific moment.