Balaklava. The balcony. 1929

Pyotr Konchalovsky made this painting called Balaklava. The balcony. using oil on canvas. There is such a sense of immediacy here, in the rough brushstrokes and bold, contrasting colours. The artist really lays down the paint, particularly in the foreground, where the balcony meets the table. The texture feels almost sculptural, you can sense the movement of his hand as he worked. Look at the confident strokes of light across the table, how he uses cool blues and warm yellows to describe the form and the light falling on the grapes. It is like the making of it is right there in the painting. That small, dark stroke that makes up the eggplant feels so alive, like a charged, single note of energy. The freedom and confidence in this piece reminds me of Matisse, both artists unafraid to experiment with colour and form. It's a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation, full of experimentation and open to endless interpretations.