Seated young man (study to "Father Time") 1927

David Burliuk made this study for "Father Time" in 1927, and it looks like he used watercolor and pencil. I love how the colors are both representational and totally off, like the red nose and cheeks. Burliuk isn’t afraid to let his colors stray beyond the lines. The surface has this great textural quality, from the paper itself, but also the marks, it's got a sketchy, immediate feel. The blue and green hues, especially on the legs, add a certain depth to the figure, pushing it and pulling it, coloristically. There’s a kind of raw, unpolished energy, it reminds me of the work of someone like Kirchner, not so much stylistically, but in its directness and the way it captures a fleeting moment. Ultimately, this piece celebrates the beauty of the unfinished, the potential inherent in a work in progress. It's like a visual conversation, and we’re invited to join in.