Radiant Morning 1922

Igor Grabar made this painting, Radiant Morning, using oil paints in a way that feels both precise and free. There's an obvious joy in the process, a real exuberance. The texture of the paint is something else; Grabar layers it up, especially in the foliage, creating a dense, almost palpable surface. You can practically feel the weight of those leaves. And the colours! The greens and yellows vibrate against each other, like the landscape is buzzing with energy. Look at the way he renders the blue of the winding river, it's almost as though he's dragging the brush across the canvas, allowing the texture to break up the light, creating this shimmering, almost dreamlike effect. This kind of all-over composition reminds me of someone like Bonnard, someone else who really knew how to capture the light and the feeling of a particular moment in time. It's a good reminder that art is really just about people, and how we see the world.