Air Man Space 1912

Lyubov Popova made this painting, Air Man Space, with oil paint, at a time when artists were really trying to break down the picture plane. I see the influence of Cubism here, the way Popova reduces figures and objects to geometric forms. The paint isn’t trying to hide itself, you can clearly see the brushstrokes, especially in the background. And, the colour palette! It’s quite contained. The whites and greys push against the oranges, creating a figure and a ground, but the dark blues keep the eye circling around. That big, bold orange shape, right in the middle, is so striking. It’s what holds the whole composition together, like a keystone. But, the way the forms are fractured and overlapping creates tension. It’s a dynamic image that seems to vibrate with energy. You could even relate this to Sonia Delaunay, another early abstract painter who explored simultaneity and rhythm. It’s that idea of trying to capture a moment in flux, or the feeling of the modern world. For me, it is a really inspiring work.