Playing Children 1909

Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky painted these children in 1909 in oil on canvas, with brushstrokes so light they almost dance. Look at the juicy strokes of red that make up the child’s shirt. I imagine Bogdanov-Belsky outside, trying to capture the scene. How did he choose this perspective, I wonder? The ochre ground feels so sunny and warm. I bet he squinted as he mixed the colors on his palette to capture that light. The children are lost in their own world, aren't they? Their heads are tilted thoughtfully, maybe sharing secrets. This is so different from his paintings of classrooms – did he prefer painting children when they were free from lessons? I look at this and think of other artists like Pierre Bonnard who captured such intimate moments of everyday life. We, as artists, are always in conversation with each other, you know? These aren't just portraits; they are feelings captured in paint. And those feelings, like all good paintings, are forever open to interpretation.