Boris Godunov.Coronation 1934

Konstantin Alexeevich Korovin made this painting of Boris Godunov's coronation with loose brushstrokes and a muted palette, capturing a momentous occasion with a surprisingly light touch. I imagine the painting coming into being in layers, a dance between intention and chance. What was Korovin thinking as he built up this scene, stroke by stroke? The texture of the paint is fairly thin, allowing a glimpse of the canvas beneath, like memories shimmering through the present. Look at the way he renders the crowd— not as distinct individuals, but as a sea of faces, a collective entity. It’s like he’s painting the atmosphere, the mood of the event, rather than aiming for a photorealistic depiction. It reminds me of the work of the Impressionists, those late 19th-century painters like Monet and Degas, who were similarly interested in capturing fleeting moments and the subjective experience of seeing. Just as they exchanged ideas, so too do artists inspire one another across time. It's an ongoing conversation, a collective exploration of what it means to be human and how we make sense of the world.