Sketch for 'Winged Painter' 1936

Petre Otskheli made this sketch for 'Winged Painter' with what looks like watercolour, and the delicate washes of colour are really what makes this image sing. There's something about the architectural space, those cool greens and browns. They create a mood that's both calm and a little unsettling, like a dream you can't quite grasp. The washes of colour, laid down so gently, almost feel like a memory fading, but at the same time, there is real depth. The vertical panels on the left of the image are reminiscent of stained glass windows, and have this intense depth of colour. The figure, leaning against the wall, seems to be observing the space, almost as if they were an outsider themselves. The way the light filters in, it feels like you could step right into this hallway. It reminds me of some of the interiors of Hammershoi, and the way he creates a sense of quiet stillness. Ultimately, I think the beauty of art lies in its ambiguity.