In Summer 1932

Veniamin Kremer made this painting, In Summer, with oil paint, probably en plein air. I like to imagine him outside, brush in hand, shifting and responding to what he saw. What do you think he was thinking as he painted this? I see a tangle of greens, yellows, and blues, applied in quick, loose strokes. The paint feels thin, almost watery in places. It is as if he was trying to capture not just the look of the landscape but also the feeling of a hazy summer day. There’s this one spot, a daub of pure yellow amidst the green foliage, that just sings. It’s like a little burst of sunlight, capturing the heat of the day. Kremer's painting reminds me of other landscape painters, like Isaac Levitan, who were also interested in capturing the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. It is like they are all in an ongoing conversation across time. It’s this kind of artistic conversation that keeps painting alive, don’t you think? It's all embodied expression which embraces ambiguity.