White Nights 1922

Mstislav Dobuzhinsky created “White Nights” with ink on paper. I imagine Dobuzhinsky, pen in hand, leaning over the paper. What kind of mark would capture the shimmering light, or a lover’s glance? You can see the artist building up the scene, line by line. Look at the clouds rendered with such speed and dynamism. The surface is alive with marks. See how the black ink creates this intense contrast and drama. The dark palette might reflect the artist's mood, or the somber tones of the city itself. Dobuzhinsky is known for his cityscapes of St Petersburg and his stage design, you can really see that here. This is what I love about painting, drawing, all art-making really. It’s this constant conversation, artists responding to each other, across time and space. It's an embodied practice. It’s messy, uncertain. There's no fixed meaning, just a constant exchange.