Neskuchnoye. Field. 1912

Zinaida Serebriakova made this landscape, Neskuchnoye. Field., with what looks like watercolour and gouache. You can see how the paint flows, pooling in places, creating these intense areas of light and shadow. It’s all about process; the way the medium is handled, the quick strokes suggesting movement. Look at how she uses the texture of the paper to her advantage, letting the white shine through the thin washes of colour. The fields are rendered with such expressive brushwork, each stroke capturing the essence of the tall grass swaying in the wind. The clouds are particularly lovely, soft and billowy, adding depth and drama to the scene. What I love most is how the path leads you into the painting, inviting you to wander through this tranquil landscape. It reminds me of Fairfield Porter's landscapes, both in their simplicity and their focus on capturing the fleeting beauty of nature. It shows us the power of art as a conversation across time.