Coachman 1904

Igor Grabar made this painting, "Coachman," with oil on canvas. The painting is broken up into small brushstrokes, which gives the surface an almost mosaic-like texture. It's not about hiding the process but reveling in it. Look closely at how the blacks of the coachman’s coat melt into the whites of the snow-covered ground. It’s like Grabar is using color to sculpt form, light, and space all at once. The red ribbons are the only pop of vibrant color, and that really pulls you in. They're almost like a signature, tying the whole piece together. The layering of paint is key here, almost like building up memories or impressions. This emphasis on materiality and process reminds me of Van Gogh, who was similarly interested in the expressive potential of paint itself. Art's not about answers, right? It's about questions, possibilities.