Evening (Angler) 1925

Nikolay Bogdanov-Belsky painted "Evening (Angler)" using oil on canvas, and the way he works the paint makes me think of a process that's all about building up layers of color. There's a real sense of depth in the piece, like the scene is unfolding right before your eyes, and it's all thanks to the physicality of the paint. The colours are muted, almost melancholic, reflecting a sense of longing or reflection. I love the way the wooden planks of the pier are rendered. You can practically feel the rough texture of the wood and the way the light plays on the water. Each stroke feels deliberate, yet loose, capturing the essence of the scene without getting too caught up in the details. Bogdanov-Belsky's work reminds me a little of Isaac Levitan, in that both artists were interested in the emotional resonance of landscape. They both have a knack for finding beauty in the ordinary. I think of art as an ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas across time.