Day on the Beach, Hamptons, Long Island 

David Burliuk painted “Day on the Beach, Hamptons, Long Island” at an unknown date, presenting us with a view of leisure on the shores of Long Island. Burliuk, a central figure in the development of Russian Futurism, emigrated to the United States in 1922. The painting captures a slice of life, seemingly focused on middle-class recreation. The beach is populated by families, with a sailboat resting on the shore, yet it is what isn't depicted that tells a story. Where are the working class, the immigrants, the African Americans who would also have been part of the social fabric of Long Island at this time? Burliuk’s style, while colorful and seemingly carefree, reflects a selective view of American society. It is both a document of its time and a mirror reflecting the societal norms and biases that shaped its creation. The painting offers a window into the past, inviting us to consider whose stories are told and whose are left out.