Models waiting for Artist (basking Italians) 1904

Konstantin Egorovich Makovsky made this painting, ‘Models waiting for Artist (basking Italians)’, with oil paints, probably in the late 19th century. Look at those marks! Aren't they wonderful? There's something so immediate and direct about that kind of painting. You get a sense of the artist really being there, moving the paint around. Makovsky laid down the paint in visible strokes and dabs. The colours are rich, earthy, and warm, a little like the Dutch Masters. It gives the whole scene a kind of glow. And look at the girl's shawl, the way the red almost vibrates against the white of her blouse. The paint is applied with such confidence, but in certain parts, like the wall behind the girl, it’s also transparent. And this builds up the layers and creates a wonderful, luminous effect. Seeing this makes me think about how art is always in dialogue with what came before. Makovsky looks back to Rembrandt, but also anticipates painters like John Singer Sargent. It’s a reminder that art is an ongoing conversation. What do you think?