Models waiting for Artist (basking Italians) 1904

Konstantin Makovsky brushed this scene into being with oils, showing us some Italians killing time. I imagine the painting was built up in layers, with the umber ground showing through the figures, unifying them as if they are emerging from the shadows. What was Makovsky thinking, watching these folks while they waited? I get a sense of the slow pace of daily life, where waiting is simply part of the rhythm, and there’s a quiet dignity in knitting and sitting. It's painted thinly, allowing the texture of the canvas to shine. I can almost feel the wool in her hands and the rough surface the boy is sat on. This feels connected to other paintings where artists depict everyday moments, like snapshots of life that would otherwise go unremarked. It's like Makovsky is reminding us that even in the simplest scenes, there's beauty if we take the time to really look. Artists are always in conversation, right?