Winter 1916

Boris Kustodiev painted “Winter” with what looks like oil on canvas, and it's just gorgeous. The way he handles paint is so upfront, like he's not trying to hide anything. The application is pretty direct, and it’s like he's building the image up from simple gestures. Check out the way the snow on the trees is built up from little daubs of white and pale blue. It’s so tactile, you can almost feel the cold just looking at it. I love how he uses these distinct, almost chunky strokes to create a sense of depth and texture. It’s not about being smooth or seamless; it's about the pure joy of laying down color and letting the marks do the work. Kustodiev's way of putting paint on the canvas reminds me a little of Courbet, someone else who wasn't afraid to let the process show. Ultimately it points to how art is an open conversation, always building and responding to what came before. Art is ambiguity and that’s what makes it exciting.