Still Life. Red roses. 1952

Pyotr Konchalovsky made this still life of red roses with oil paints, though when exactly, we don't know. What strikes me is the way he’s wrestled the paint into these velvety, almost bruised looking reds. It’s like the painting itself is a living thing, aging and changing right before our eyes. Look at how Konchalovsky uses texture here. The paint is thick in some spots, especially in those roses, creating a real sense of depth and physicality, and so much lighter in the background. You can almost feel the weight of the petals, while the wispy greens in the background fade into a soft haze. The brushstrokes are visible, energetic, like he was trying to capture not just the look of the flowers, but their essence, their fleeting beauty. Konchalovsky reminds me of another artist who I love, Soutine, both of whom seem to be channeling something deep and raw through their work. To me art isn't about perfection, it's about the process, the struggle, the conversation between the artist and the canvas.