At the Boulevard 1887

Vladimir Makovsky’s “At the Boulevard” was created with oil paints, applied with brushes to a canvas support. As a material, oil paint is interesting because of its versatility; it can be applied thinly or thickly, and can be blended to create a wide range of tones and textures. Here, Makovsky uses these properties to great effect. Look at the ways in which the paint is applied in visible strokes, particularly in the background details of the buildings and trees. It’s important to recognize that Makovsky was not just representing a scene; he was also using his artistic skill, his labor, to create an image that evokes a specific social context. Here, the artist prompts us to consider the everyday lives of ordinary people, including a street musician who performs labor through his craft, in the rapidly changing urban environment of late 19th-century Russia. Paying attention to materials, processes, and social context allows us to appreciate the full meaning of the artwork, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.