Woman Milking a Cow 1916

This painting of a woman milking a cow was made by Niko Pirosmani, we don't know exactly when, but he uses oilcloth as his canvas. The palette is so grounded: earthy browns, creamy whites, and a splash of blue on her blouse. It's like he's painting with the very stuff of the countryside itself. The paint application is direct; you can see the brushstrokes, the way he builds up the forms with layers of color. Look at the cow's legs, they have a beautiful, awkward simplicity, and that head has a sweet directness of gaze. The black outline creates such a graphic, poster-like quality. I love how Pirosmani makes it okay for things to be a little off, perspective not quite right, proportions a bit wonky. It’s like he’s inviting us to see the world with fresh eyes, to appreciate the beauty in the everyday. You know, he reminds me a bit of Rousseau. Both had that amazing ability to capture the essence of things with such honesty and charm. It's like a conversation between artists across time, each one adding their unique voice to the mix.