Riga. A nook of the embankment. 

Mstislav Dobuzhinsky, a Russian artist of Lithuanian-Polish descent, painted ‘Riga. A nook of the embankment’ to express the melancholy associated with urban environments and the emotional states of those inhabiting them. Dobuzhinsky was part of the ‘World of Art’ movement in early 20th-century Russia, where artists explored themes of historical and cultural identity amid rapid modernization. He depicted the city of Riga, then part of the Russian Empire, with a somber palette, capturing the isolation and alienation that he perceived within urban life. The buildings, rendered in muted tones, evoke a sense of quiet desolation, while the sky seems heavy, pressing down on the scene. Dobuzhinsky’s personal experiences as a cosmopolitan artist navigating multiple cultural identities certainly shaped his perspective. His art offered a space to reflect on the social and psychological impact of urban transformation.