At midday 1947

Pyotr Konchalovsky’s large-scale canvas teems with life in the countryside. I imagine the scene coming into being through small dabs and jabs of paint in various shades of green. It makes me think of the French Impressionists, but it is also something uniquely Russian. Looking at this, I imagine him outside, squinting in the midday sun, sweating a bit. The green is cool and inviting. The reflection of the trees in the water is nicely done. The thick paint handling and bold brushstrokes, especially in the trees, create a vibrant surface, and I am drawn to the way the light shimmers and dances across the leaves, which is a feat. It is a reminder of the artist's hand and vision. This kind of painting embodies the idea of art as a dynamic and ever-evolving process. I think artists are in constant conversation. You can feel the painter thinking and experimenting as he works, and that’s what makes it alive.