Spring in countryside 1917

David Burliuk likely painted this countryside scene with oil on canvas, using a heavily impastoed technique. The visible layering of paint demonstrates the artist's active engagement with the material, transforming it from a fluid medium into a textured surface, mimicking the rough, uneven terrain of the landscape. Burliuk’s visible brushstrokes and thick application of paint create a tactile quality, inviting the viewer to consider the physical act of painting. It also reflects the physical demands of rural life, the labor of farming, and the weight of winter giving way to spring. Burliuk was deeply engaged with the artistic avant-garde, and this expressionistic approach, focusing on texture and materiality, elevates the scene. It’s more than just a representation; it’s about the artist’s physical and emotional connection to the subject. By emphasizing material and process, Burliuk bridges the gap between the observed world and the artist’s interpretation.