Mount St. George 1911

Konstantin Bogaevsky built this image of Mount St. George, stroke by stroke, mark by mark; a process of emergence through layering, trial, and error. I can imagine Bogaevsky standing at his easel, brush in hand, trying to capture the essence of this imposing, otherworldly landscape. What was he thinking as he dabbed blues, reds, and browns onto the canvas? He’s carefully building up the image, brick by brick, mountain by mountain, and then the town, snaking across the red rock. See how the paint is applied in these short, deliberate strokes? They create a sense of depth and texture, as if we could reach out and touch the craggy surface of the mountain. Bogaevsky lays the paint on thick in some areas, thin in others, building a vision. Ultimately, artists are in an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas across time. Painting is embodied expression, embracing uncertainty and ambiguity, which allows multiple interpretations of meanings.