Gudal`s-Castle 1902

Konstantin Alexeevich Korovin made "Gudal's Castle" with what looks like oil on canvas, and it’s a riot of brushstrokes, a real physical dance with the paint. The color palette here is like a moody dream, all dark greens and grays punctuated by flashes of light and warm ambers. Up close, you can see how Korovin loaded the paint onto the brush, leaving these juicy, textured marks that feel so alive. Look at the way he renders the crowd, each figure is just a few swipes of color, and yet they have so much presence. The brushwork around the statue is particularly interesting. The texture is thick, almost sculptural, creating a focal point that draws you in. Korovin reminds me a bit of Manet, in the way he captures a scene with such immediacy and painterly skill. It’s a reminder that art is always an exchange, a conversation across time and space.