Orchard 1922

Pyotr Konchalovsky painted this piece, Orchard, with oil on canvas, and it's a delicious example of letting the process lead. The color is laid down in these visible strokes, and you can really see the hand of the artist in it. Up close, you can see how Konchalovsky used a loaded brush to dab at the canvas. It's like he's building up the orchard, one daub at a time. Look at how he renders the light filtering through the leaves – short, choppy strokes of green and blue, capturing the dappled effect. It's so physical, you can almost feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. And notice those dark outlines around the tree trunks – they really make the trees pop, don't they? Konchalovsky clearly had an appreciation for the work of Cezanne, and you see this influence at play here in the use of colour planes to create depth. But really, this painting speaks to how artists build on each other, an ongoing conversation through the ages. It leaves you wondering, what's next?