Sophia of Kyiv. View from the southeast side 1960

Yuriy Khymych, in Sophia of Kyiv, painted with definite strokes in shades of blues, greens, and golds, a cluster of Byzantine domes. Imagine Khymych now, deciding which blue to use for each shadow, trying to capture that southeastern light. The paint is probably thick, applied in layers, a visible record of the painting’s making. Notice the way he defines each dome with confident lines, a bit wobbly and imperfect, full of character. The picture is not just about the building, right? It is about an artist's relationship with the world and with history. It reminds me of other painters like Lyonel Feininger, who abstracted architecture into shimmering facets of color and light. Painting is like a conversation across time, it’s about Khymych responding to the artists who came before him, and paving the way for those who will follow. These are all artists speaking through color and form. And that conversation never really ends, does it?