Collioure 1930

Zinaida Serebriakova painted ‘Collioure’ using oil on canvas, and what strikes me is her confident mark making in a plein air painting. The brushstrokes are visible, almost brisk, capturing the light and atmosphere of the Mediterranean coast. It’s like she’s inviting us to witness the act of painting itself. The texture and color create a vibrant surface. The pigment's applied with varying degrees of thickness, creating a lovely contrast between the solidity of the buildings and the gossamer of the fishing nets. Notice the way Serebriakova uses warm yellows and oranges to depict the sun-drenched buildings, while the cool blues and greens in the background create a sense of depth and distance. I can't help but think of Cézanne when I see this piece; she shares his interest in simplifying forms and using color to create structure. But where Cézanne is analytical, Serebriakova feels more intuitive, more emotionally engaged. Both artists remind us that art is an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas across time.