At the Pump 1950

Yuriy Khymych made this watercolor landscape, titled "At the Pump," in Ukraine. Look at the way the paper peeks through the washes of color, which creates all this light. I can imagine Khymych outside, squinting in the bright sunlight, trying to get it all down quickly before the light shifts. The painting feels casual, like a snapshot, yet the composition is so carefully considered. See how the lines of the buildings lead your eye through the scene? He balances the cool blues and purples of the shadows against the warm reds and oranges of the rooftops. It's a dance of color and light. I love the way he captures the feeling of a sunny day in this small town. It reminds me that painting isn't just about depicting reality, but about capturing a feeling, an atmosphere, a moment in time. It is so beautiful when painters respond to what they see, and then we get to respond to their response.