Pskov 1919

Konstantin Gorbatov made this painting of Pskov with oil on canvas, though the date is unknown. The earthy palette of browns, greens, and blues gives a grounded feel, as if the scene emerged straight from the earth itself. You can feel the process in every brushstroke. The painting surface is rich with texture. The thick impasto of the paint makes the water shimmer, each dab a tiny reflection. Look at the way the sky is rendered. Short, choppy strokes build up the clouds. It’s almost like you can feel the wind shifting them. The towers in the background are solid, but they’re built up from a mosaic of colors. Patches of ochre and grey suggest the play of light on stone, a real push-pull between the architecture and the sky. This kind of painting reminds me of Russian Impressionists like Isaac Levitan, who shared a love for the landscape and a dedication to capturing its fleeting beauty. There's a sense of dialogue, ideas evolving through the act of painting itself. Ultimately, art is like that, an ongoing conversation across time and space.