Liturgy - sketch of a costume 1914

This painting by Natalia Goncharova imagines a costume with bold forms in blue, brown, and yellow. I wonder what it was like for her to make it, thinking about how a figure could come to life through geometric shapes. The face is so somber and the hands outstretched; these tender gestures contrast with the angular planes. I imagine her laying down the washes of paint, and then the delight in designing the floral textile pattern. See how it drapes as part of the costume? The composition reminds me of Russian icons mixed with cubist painting—Goncharova's art really brought together both folk art and modernism. And these kinds of cross-cultural conversations make for a richer painting world. There are so many ways to see.