Landscape with a flowerbed 1917

Boris Kustodiev made this lush landscape with a flowerbed, we don’t know when. Look at the garden in full bloom, a riot of greens and bright reds, pinks, blues and purples—it’s like he’s bottled a perfect summer’s day. I can imagine Kustodiev outside, squinting in the sun. The paint is applied in thick dabs and dashes, full of light. It’s like he’s trying to capture not just what he sees, but how it feels to be there. See how the green paint of the trees is dabbed and layered to create a sense of depth and volume. And those bright blooms, painted with such joy—they almost feel like they’re dancing in the breeze. I feel like Kustodiev is speaking to us, sharing his love of the natural world, his joy of being alive. And in turn, it's re-inspiring our own creativity.