Scarborough 1925

Konstantin Gorbatov painted this seaside view of Scarborough with oils, probably en plein air, meaning in the open air. Look at how he layered those blues and greens! You can almost feel the sea breeze and the damp earth. I bet he set up his easel right there on that path and just let loose, trying to catch the light as it bounced off the water. See that little bench? Maybe he took a break there, squinting at the scene, trying to figure out how to get that hazy light just right. It’s like he’s not just painting a place, but also a mood, a feeling of being there, watching the day unfold. I’m a sucker for paintings like this, where you can see the hand of the artist, the push and pull of the brush. You know, painting is like a conversation, one brushstroke answering another, until the whole thing hums with life. I think Gorbatov would agree.