Landscape 1975

Sergiy Grigoriev made this landscape painting with oil on canvas, probably en plein air! The thick strokes of green and yellow speak to the lushness of nature, the artist building up the scene layer by layer. I can almost feel the texture of the paint, thick in some areas and thin in others. See how the brushstrokes dance across the canvas? Each one feels deliberate, yet free, capturing the essence of the landscape rather than a literal depiction. I wonder if Grigoriev was thinking about the Impressionists when he made this? There's a similar interest in light and atmosphere, but with a distinctly personal touch. I imagine him standing before the scene, squinting to see the subtle shifts in color and value. Maybe he mixed colours right on the canvas, embracing the immediacy of the moment. Looking at this landscape, I am reminded of all the artists who have tried to capture the beauty and complexity of the natural world. Painting is a conversation across time, with artists responding to and building upon each other’s ideas.