Kings Feast 

Pavel Filonov’s *King’s Feast* is a painting that gives us a feast for the eyes. It's executed in oil paint, but with a graphic intensity closer to printmaking or illustration, particularly in the bold outlines that divide the composition. These delineations almost feel like leading in stained glass. Filonov seems less interested in the illusion of depth and more invested in the surface quality of the painting, which emphasizes the constructed nature of the composition. Look closely, and you can see the artist building up form with small strokes of color, a faceted approach he called "analytical realism." It's interesting to consider Filonov’s commitment to intense handwork against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution, which happened during his lifetime. The painting doesn’t shy away from social commentary, it’s crammed with figures from different social strata, creating a sense of unease and tension, and challenging distinctions between skill, labor, art, and class.