Village 1902

Konstantin Alexeevich Korovin captured this Village with oil paints, likely in the early 20th century. The brushstrokes here are really loose, almost like he’s sketching with paint, blocking in shapes rather than defining edges. I love the way the paint is applied, it’s so immediate and physical. You can see the texture of the brush in every stroke. The color palette is earthy – browns, greens, and creams – but he uses these colors in such a way that the whole scene seems to vibrate with light. Look at the way he layers the paint in the foreground, building up this thick impasto that makes you want to reach out and touch it. There’s a real sense of place here. Korovin’s work reminds me of the French Impressionist painter, Camille Pissarro, particularly in the way he captures the light and atmosphere of a rural landscape, but with a distinctly Russian sensibility. For me this piece is a reminder that art is always a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas and influences across time and cultures.