Tea Room in the old town of Kaunas 1930

Mstislav Dobuzhinsky made this view of a Tea Room in Kaunas, we don’t know when, but I imagine he had a good time doing it. The watercolour is applied in layers, with thin washes building up to create depth and texture. Look closely at that ceiling; each stroke is like a tiny sculpture, carving out the space above our heads. The paint isn't trying to hide itself; it's there, present, creating a sense of atmosphere. I’m drawn to the way Dobuzhinsky uses colour, so restrained and subtle. The muted tones of the walls and ceiling create a sense of intimacy, like a secret world hidden away from the bustling city outside. But then, there’s that bouquet of flowers, bursting with colour, disrupting the calm. The Russian avant-garde comes to mind, particularly artists like Chagall, who also found beauty in the everyday. But where Chagall is all dreams and fantasy, Dobuzhinsky feels more grounded, more connected to the world around him. It reminds us that art isn't about finding definitive answers, it's about embracing the questions.