Coachman 1904

Igor Grabar made this painting of a coachman with oils and a brush, probably alla prima, wet on wet. The dominant strokes are short, textured dashes of white, brown, and black that capture the bundled-up figure and the snowy landscape. I'm guessing Grabar wanted to create a sense of immediacy. I can almost imagine him, outside in the cold, trying to capture the scene as quickly as possible. Looking at the red reins hanging off the side, I wonder if Grabar was thinking about the bright slashes of color in Impressionist paintings. The surface looks pretty thick. It gives the painting a tactile quality. That one red gesture really draws the eye. Artists are always borrowing from each other and from the past. Painting is a constant conversation. And like any good conversation, it’s full of surprises, detours, and moments of genuine connection.