Bakhchisarai, Palace baths 1963

Yuriy Khymych painted this ochre and terracotta scene of the Palace Baths using broad strokes to capture the light and shadows of an ancient place. I imagine Khymych standing before this timeworn structure, his eyes squinting in the sun. The flat planes and simplified shapes suggest that he was thinking less about detail and more about the overall impression of the scene. There is an immediacy to the image, a feeling of direct engagement. The thick paint and the way the colors are laid down side-by-side makes me think of other painters like David Hockney, who capture the essence of a place through the interplay of light and color. The rounded forms of the domed roofs echo the curves of the distant hills, creating a sense of harmony and balance. Ultimately, this painting invites us to slow down and contemplate the layers of history and human experience embedded within the walls of this ancient place.