Still Life. Oak branch. 1921

Pyotr Konchalovsky made this “Still Life. Oak branch.” with oils on canvas, its exact date unknown. It’s interesting, the way he's attacking the canvas with these visible brushstrokes. It reminds me of how artmaking is really a process, a journey of layering and discovering. Looking closely, you can see the texture of the paint, thick in some areas, almost like he's sculpting with it. The leaves, especially, have a kind of vibrant energy, with these bright greens and blues, contrasting with the earthy reds and browns of the surface below. I see a little keyhole too, like a portal into some hidden world. It’s like he's inviting us to see the world not just as it is, but as it could be, full of life and potential. Konchalovsky's work reminds me a little of early Cezanne, in that he is similarly preoccupied with creating a sense of depth and volume with colour. Both artists seem to embrace the ambiguity and multiple interpretations.