Roofs 1923

Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin made this drawing, titled 'Roofs,' using ink, and it's all about the act of seeing – especially from above. Imagine Petrov-Vodkin perched high up, maybe on a rooftop himself, observing this cluster of buildings. The lines are etched with precision, creating a sense of depth and perspective that pulls you into the scene. It’s like he's mapping out this little world with his pen. I bet he was thinking about how different life looks from up high, the patterns and rhythms that emerge when you step back. There’s something almost architectural about the way he's constructed the image, each stroke building up the forms of the buildings. It reminds me of Piranesi's etchings of Rome, but with a more intimate, human touch. Artists like Petrov-Vodkin show us that painting isn't just about representation, it's about how we see and understand the world around us, one line, one roof at a time.