Peasant Working in a Field 1940

David Burliuk made this painting of a peasant working in a field, with what looks like oil paint. It’s pretty direct and there’s an openness in the way he puts paint to canvas, nothing too fancy, just a kind of honest labor of painting. There’s something very blunt about the way the colours are laid down, like the bright white of the donkey against the ruddy field, or the way the trees are daubed with various shades of green. Nothing is mixed or blended too much, giving it this great naive quality. Take the sky, for instance - this big, flat blue field - Burliuk doesn't sweat the details, it is what it is. He reminds me a bit of Henri Rousseau, another artist who wasn't afraid to just put it out there, using these clean, clear colours and straightforward compositions. Both of them just dove in, without overthinking it, making art that’s both simple and deeply felt. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most powerful art comes from just doing it, embracing the imperfections, and letting the process lead the way.