Winter 1961

Valerii Lamakh made this painting, ‘Winter’, with oil paint, though I can’t tell you exactly when. The colours are muted, but they are applied with so much energy. They are thick and chalky, with outlines of contrasting colors surrounding the forms. The palette is a mix of reds, oranges, blues, and greens that feels like a controlled explosion of color. Look at the lower right corner, a little white square that seems to contain a bird. The paint is built up in layers, each stroke distinct, yet blending into the overall texture. This little vignette feels like a moment of quiet observation amidst the larger composition. I think of other artists who combine abstraction and figuration like this: maybe someone like Marsden Hartley? With Hartley, and with Lamakh, it’s like they’re having a conversation with the history of painting itself.