Geraniums 

Boris Grigoriev made this painting of geraniums using oil paints. It’s not just the image of the flowers, but the way the paint is applied that really strikes you. See how Grigoriev builds up the surface, layer upon layer? The paint has a real heft to it, worked with a brush. The inherent qualities of the oil paint - its thickness, its capacity to be shaped, its deep color - all of this is on full display. You can really feel the artist’s hand in this, the direct application of paint to the canvas. This materiality is really important. Grigoriev wasn't just trying to represent geraniums; he was also exploring the very stuff of painting itself. It's a reminder that art isn't just about the final image, but about the processes and materials that bring it into being. This kind of attention to making encourages us to challenge the traditional hierarchy between fine art and craft.