Autumn in a Village 1986

Victor Puzyrkov’s “Autumn in a Village” feels like it was made with a kind of love only paint can give, like a hug from someone wearing a really scratchy sweater. The browns and grays create a moody landscape that is so evocative. You can almost smell the damp earth, can't you? I am especially drawn to the way the paint is applied. See how Puzyrkov uses these thick, deliberate strokes to build up the texture of the wooden house? It’s like he’s constructing the building right before our eyes, log by log. Then, in the foreground, there’s this field of dark, churned-up earth, rendered with loose, almost frantic brushwork. It’s so physical, like you can feel the weight and density of the soil. The little figure there in the red hat is just amazing! There is something about this painting that reminds me of Van Gogh, that same commitment to working outdoors, and using nature as an inspiration. But Puzyrkov has his own, distinct vision. It's all about that feeling of being connected to the land, and the quiet beauty of everyday life.