Night in Venice 

Konstantin Gorbatov's 'Night in Venice' captures a nocturnal view of Venice with dabs of vibrant, contrasting colors and the energetic brushwork of the early 20th century. Gorbatov was a Russian artist who, like many, was displaced by the Russian Revolution in 1917. His later life in exile gives this painting a poignant layer, as Venice became a symbol of the beauty and cultural heritage lost and yearned for. The shimmering lights and reflections on the water evoke a sense of longing and nostalgia. There is a tension between the lively, bustling scene and the enveloping darkness, an intimate and personal exploration of cultural identity, memory, and displacement. In his paintings, Gorbatov often showed "the charm of old Russia," attempting to capture and preserve what he thought was vanishing. This canvas might reflect that same impulse, a desire to capture a moment in time, a place of beauty, as a means of holding onto something precious amidst the turbulence of history.