House by the sea 1970

Yuriy Khymych made this watercolor, "House by the Sea", with a fluid application of paint, creating a scene that feels both intimate and expansive. You can see Khymych's interest in the process in the brushstrokes on the ochre hillside, where each mark seems to register a decision made in the moment. The texture is remarkable. The paper seems almost thirsty for the watercolour, drinking it up, creating soft, blurred edges. Notice how the planes of the house are defined not so much by lines, but by blocks of color, a pale yellow subtly shifting from light to shadow. It is a brilliant choice to leave the washing line near the house undefined, because it places emphasis on the flat planes of colour. The whole piece feels like a memory, like a dream. The muted palette connects Khymych to the tradition of Russian landscape painting, maybe Isaac Levitan. But there's also something uniquely personal here, a quiet, contemplative gaze. Ultimately, it's up to us, the viewers, to complete the story.