The Houses of Parliament and Lambeth Palace, London 

Konstantin Gorbatov captured the Houses of Parliament and Lambeth Palace in London with watercolour. The subdued palette of greys, blues and browns creates a misty, atmospheric scene. The architecture is depicted with soft, diffused lines, contributing to the work’s dreamlike quality. Gorbatov skillfully uses composition to guide the viewer’s eye through the urban landscape. The Houses of Parliament on the left serve as a focal point, balanced by Lambeth Palace on the right. The River Thames flows between them, acting as a compositional tool, and is filled with reflections and light that add depth to the scene. The soft brushstrokes and delicate layering of colours evoke a sense of transience, fitting within the Impressionistic tradition of capturing fleeting moments. The way Gorbatov handles light and shadow enhances the buildings’ texture, creating a visual interplay between solidity and ethereality. This creates a captivating image where the architectural structures appear both permanent and ephemeral, deeply rooted in their cultural and historical context.