At the Open Window 1916

Konstantin Korovin made this painting, probably in oil, of two women at an open window, and I can just imagine him building it up, stroke by stroke. I wonder what it was like for Korovin to stand before this canvas? Did he sketch first? Or just dive right in, letting the light guide his brush? It's not so much about realism but about sensation, right? The dabs of pink and green that give us the women's dresses, the bold strokes that suggest the garden outside. I can feel the warmth on my skin, the breeze through the open window. There's a real joy in the application of paint itself; each touch seems alive with energy. And then look at the windowsill, how the colours vibrate. Artists are always borrowing, stealing, and riffing off each other and from the world. I think we continue in this way – by looking, seeing, and feeling. We hope to open up something new in the process.