Radiant Morning 1922

Igor Grabar made this landscape painting, Radiant Morning, with oils to capture a bright sunny day. Imagine Grabar layering these brushstrokes one by one, almost like he’s building the scene right in front of him, responding to each dab of color. The trees on the left look so lush and dense, while on the right, the leaves are a lighter, sunnier green—you can almost feel the warmth. I wonder what it was like to stand there, painting. Maybe he had to swat away some mosquitos! Those quick strokes of blue in the water feel so alive. It’s not just about copying nature, it’s more like he’s trying to bottle the feeling of being there. It reminds me of the French Impressionists, like Monet and Pissarro, who tried to capture a fleeting moment in time. Painting is like an ongoing conversation between artists. Grabar's work makes me want to grab my brushes and start mixing some greens!