Still Life by the Window, Capri 1930

Konstantin Gorbatov made this oil painting, Still Life by the Window, Capri, sometime in the early twentieth century. The mark-making in this piece is really something. It's so joyful, like each dab of paint is a little celebration of color and light, isn't it? You can tell he was having a good time. Looking closely, you'll see how Gorbatov builds up the surface with these thick, almost mosaic-like strokes. The colours aren’t blended so much as they are placed next to each other, which makes the light feel like it’s actually vibrating. It's as if the Mediterranean sun itself is caught in the paint. Notice that red pumpkin - how the oranges and reds and browns come together with these daubs of white to create a sense of roundness and weight. It's so simple, but so effective. This playfulness reminds me a bit of Bonnard, that same attention to domestic interiors and a similar light touch, but with a Russian sensibility. Of course, it's all open to interpretation. That's what makes it interesting, right?