Old city in Kaunas 1923

Mstislav Dobuzhinsky made this ink on paper drawing, Old City in Kaunas, sometime in the first half of the 20th Century. The sepia tones give it a timeless quality. It's like he's sketching a memory, not just a place. The lines feel both precise and a little shaky, which I find so appealing. Look at the way the buildings are rendered – they’re not quite perfect, they lean and tilt a bit, which gives them so much character. And the textures! The way he suggests the rough wood of the fences and the crumbling facades of the buildings, it’s all in these tiny, careful strokes. It feels like a slow, thoughtful process. There's a little dark patch where the street meets the building on the left, it's just a blotch, but it anchors the whole composition. It’s these details that make the drawing feel so alive. I am reminded of the work of Lyonel Feininger, who shared a similar interest in architectural subjects and a subtle application of ink. Art is such a great conversation across time!