Trees in Bloom 1924

Konstantin Gorbatov painted "Trees in Bloom" with oil on canvas, and there's something about the way he builds up the surface that really grabs me. He’s using all these little dabs and strokes of paint, kind of like a mosaic, to conjure up the blossoms, the sky, and the distant landscape. It’s almost pointillist in a way, but looser, more gestural. Look at the way he renders the blooms on the trees, how he captures the ephemeral quality of spring. I love how the brushwork creates a shimmering effect, as if the whole scene is vibrating with life. The colours are muted, soft, but still manages to convey a sense of light and atmosphere, the dreamy haze of spring, very impressionistic. It reminds me a little of Bonnard and his ability to capture light and colour. Art isn't just about what you see, but how you feel, and Gorbatov, like Bonnard, really nails that.