Virgin of Tenderness evil hearts 1915

Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin’s “Virgin of Tenderness evil hearts” is rendered in a palette of reds, blues, and browns on a canvas about a meter square, and the geometric faceting gives it a Cubo-Futurist vibe. I wonder what it was like to paint this? I imagine Petrov-Vodkin starting with the face, those big, dark eyes looking right at you, and then building the rest of the composition around that central gaze. The paint is applied smoothly, almost like fresco, which adds to the painting's otherworldly feel. Notice how the red of the Virgin's veil is echoed in the flesh tones of her face and hands, creating a sense of unity and coherence. Those upraised hands, the angles feel so modern. It makes me think about the conversations painters have over time. Here, Petrov-Vodkin is speaking to the history of religious painting and bringing it into the 20th century. The beauty of painting lies in its ability to be a conversation—an ongoing exchange of ideas, feelings, and experiences across time.