The Conversation, Capri 1933

Alexandre Jacovleff painted "The Conversation, Capri" with what looks like gouache or tempera, judging by that matte surface. It feels like a quick study, or a memory splashed down on paper. I love how the darks are built up with these loose, watery strokes that let the light peek through. Check out the woman’s dress, how those strokes give it weight and volume. And see how the turquoise of the door frame becomes almost luminous against the darker tones, drawing your eye into the scene. That little patch of red and white in the seated woman's lap – is she knitting? It's such a small detail, but it anchors the whole composition, giving it a human touch. It reminds me a little of Vuillard, capturing those intimate, everyday moments, and elevating them through paint. Art's just ongoing conversations. What do you think they are talking about?