Playing Children 1909

Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky painted "Playing Children" in 1909, using loose brushstrokes and a warm, earthy palette. The way he's laid down these colors, it's like he's capturing a fleeting moment, a memory half-formed. Artmaking isn't just about copying what you see, it's about feeling your way through it. Looking closer, you can see how the texture builds up, especially in the red of the child's shirt. The paint isn't trying to hide; it's right there on the surface, thick in some spots, thinner in others. There is a gestural energy, a feeling of the artist's hand moving across the canvas, trying to capture the feel of the light and the way the children are absorbed in their play. That patch of green to the right of the children feels like a summary of the whole painting; it could be grass or just a splash of colour, but it hums with possibility. Bogdanov-Belsky reminds me a little of someone like Bonnard, that same interest in everyday life and the way light transforms a scene. But, of course, Bogdanov-Belsky has his own voice, his own way of seeing the world. And that's what art is all about, really – different ways of seeing.