Karelia, Solomenskoe Village 1969

Petros Malayan made this watercolor painting, ‘Karelia, Solomenskoe Village,’ probably on site. I can imagine him right there, by the water’s edge, trying to capture the light and the feel of the place with loose, flowing washes of color. There's a tenderness in the way he depicts the scene. See how the muted palette emphasizes the quiet, almost melancholic mood. The strokes are fluid and quick, like he's trying to catch a fleeting moment. The thin paint allows the white of the paper to peek through, adding air and lightness to the composition. And the little figures! They're not just placed there, they're integrated into the landscape, almost like ghosts. I'm thinking of other artists like Fairfield Porter or even early Winslow Homer, who also had this incredible ability to capture the everyday with such sensitivity. It makes me want to pick up my own brushes and start responding. It's all a big conversation, you know?