Mount St. George 1911

Konstantin Bogaevsky imagined Mount St. George with oil on canvas, but when is anybody's guess. The colour palette is daring: the deep blues and violets create a dreamlike quality, as if this landscape exists more in the realm of imagination than reality, but the pinks and oranges make the rocks look almost edible. The texture is thick and layered, with visible brushstrokes adding to the sense of movement and energy. Look closely at the blue ridges of the central mountain. The paint seems almost sculpted, giving a tangible form to the rock. This physicality brings an emotional weight, evoking a sense of awe, and perhaps even a touch of melancholy. The red mark in the foreground provides a foil to all this blueness and a little jolt of energy. Bogaevsky’s blend of fantasy and reality reminds me of Arthur Dove, who found ways to see nature anew. Like all great art, this painting invites us to slow down, look closely, and let our imaginations run wild.